Last year, Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that his government would work to convince their Guatemalan counterparts of a need for confidence building measures in the Sarstoon.
That's so that the Organization of American States' Benque Office in the Adjacency Zone could be called on to verify whenever there are confrontations on the Sarstoon, such as the 2 which have happened between the Guatemalan Navy and the Belize Territorial Volunteers.
But, instead of increasing vigilance, the OAS Adjacency Zone Office may end up having none at all!
That's if the office is forced to close due to a lack of funding from the international community who are committed to seeing Belize and Guatemala reach a peaceful resolution to the territorial claim.
Yesterday, Former PUP Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay told the media that the office might to be in peril if certain actions are not taken in time:
Eamon Courtenay, Former Foreign Minister
"We in the People's United Party called on Guatemala specifically to support the efforts to keep the Organization of American States in the adjacency zone. It has serve a very useful purpose. It has reduce tensions and it has been able to verify on each occasion that the Belize Defence Force and our security forces were in the right and Guatemala is in the wrong. That office is in peril of being closed because of lack of funds and we say in no uncertain terms that it is in the interest of Belize that it be maintained and we call on Guatemala to do the responsible thing, to join the effort to raise the funds for that office to remain there and in fact we are advocating that confidence building measures needs to be in place in the Sarstoon in order to avoid what is clearly designed by Guatemala some sort of provocation that is going to lead to the loss of life and property. It is clear that Guatemala has decided to behave contrary to international law. To behave like rogue nation and we have to carry that message to the international community."
Today, we had an opportunity to ask Foreign Minister Elrington about it, and he told us that his ministry is aware of the challenges, and that he and his Guatemalan counterparts intend to meet and discuss it in a few months:
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The OAS office at the adjacency zone has to be financed and I think it's in excess of $200,000 US a year to keep it open and that money has got to be obtained on an annual basis. Historically it has been funded by a group of friends; the European Union, Canada, Mexico and other friendly countries. They contribute a certain proportion of the funds. So it has to be replenish on an annual basis and reports we have received is that we do have some difficulty in securing the allocation that will be needed after August of this year."
"So, we are in fact looking acidulously at trying to see how we can in fact get those funds. We work in trying to get it by talking to the various countries that are friendly with us."
Reporter
"Mr. Courtenay alluded that Guatemala is not interested of keeping the office the adjacency zone. Because he called upon the government and do the right thing and to support your efforts. He sort of alluded that they are not doing...."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is that the sense you are getting?"
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"There is suggestion in some quarters that the Guatemalans in some quarters may think that the office is more favorably disposed to Belize than to Guatemala. But that is not the perception I get when I interact with the official Guatemalan officials. I mean the foreign minister from Guatemala was very insistent on us approaching the secretary general as quickly as possible to try to work on getting the funds, proposing that we do and what we called a roadshow - we'll go the capitols in Europe and other friendly countries and solicit the resources that are so badly needed."
According to Elrington it is not advisable for either Belize or Guatemala to contribute to the OAS Peace Fund, which is what finances the Adjacency Zone Office at the Benque Viejo border. For appearance's sake, the OAS Peace Fund Mission must remain free of any criticism that one country or the other is able to exert pressure due to the financial ties.
Email
Print