Last night on the news, we told you about Assad Shoman's new book, Guatemala's Claim to Belize, the Definitive History. At his press conference to launch the book yesterday, Shoman discussed what he believes is the wisdom of Belize going to the ICJ. He pointed out that at the highest level, the Guatemalans have publicly conceded that they most likely stand to gain nothing, other than international respectability. Here's Shoman prefacing that interview 7News did in Washington 10 years ago:...
Assad Shoman, Author
"I think it was you who interviewed Gert Roesnthal one time."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Yes."
Assad Shoman, Author
"Interviewed the foreign minister of Guatemala and ask him you think you could win when you go to the court and what did he say? Not a chance."
"Their own foreign minister, one of the best they had, actually."
Gert Roesnthal, Guatemalan Foreign Minister
"It's the only solution to end this conflict for us. The only way to get off the hook, because Guatemala has no imperial intentions, is for a juridical solution. That gets Guatemala off the hook in terms of ending this 150 year dispute. I wouldn't say it is urgent because 150 years has elapsed and I wish we would have solved this many years ago."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Do you feel you all would win the case if it goes to the ICJ? You have seen the evidence."
Gert Rosenthal
"I am not a lawyer but I think most lawyers would tell you that, no, Guatemala would not win the case."
Adele Ramos, reporter
"Not any part of it, because it involves land, it involves the sea?"
Gert Rosenthal,
"It is one of things that is all or nothing and it would probably be nothing."
Assad Shoman, Author
"Because his point was as you he said to us, we go out there and the Caribbean is against us, Taiwan is against us - everybody is against us, because we are claiming a little country. He said that we have to get that past us by whatever means, even though we lose. We have to put that in the past."
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