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Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"He is saying that he is committed to peace with Belize. Of course the question with the Sarstoon came up. I raised the question of the Sarstoon and his response was well once we go to court - that together with everything else will be disposed of. So I have no doubt that he truly believes that the referendum if in fact Belize vote t go to the referendum will put an end to the issue. I truly believe that Guatemala absolutely knows that it would have to respect the ICJ ruling and basically that's where that stood. Until April 10t, Belize is still pressing for us to try and come up with a modus Vivendi for the Sarstoon that would guaranteed that our rights are respected. But I can't tell you that I was able to achieve that today."

"My advice from our experts is that if Belize votes yes in the referendum and we agree for the submission for the problem for the ICJ, immediately the possibility is open up of our asking the ICJ for them to institute interim measures until the matter is finally decided."

But could Prime Minister Barrow and President Morales even find a modus vivendi between themselves? The Press asked what their bilateral meeting was like:...

Reporter
"Did you have personal discussions with President Morales? Was it friendly? I ask because some Belizeans think that because of the nature of our relationship Guatemala is claiming Belize that there might be some tension between the leaders."

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The bilateral meeting that we had, yes. For example when there was the problem in the Chiquibul, when they went off because acting in self defence and in our territory, the Belizeans had killed the young Guatemala. He and I met at the UN concerning that matter. Yes, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Today, it was different. We are part of this regional organization. Belize's protem presidency ended today. We handed over to Guatemala. In that kind of a context there was not not the sort of tension that might otherwise have existed and in raising with him the issue the Sarstoon during our bilateral meeting, it was done in a fashion in which it was made plain that we have our position which is firm immovable. They of course have their position on their side that's also firm and immovable and the question was how do we find a way not withstanding the absolute positions we take in terms of certainly Belize's rights. How do we find a position where we can move forward on an interim basis certainly between now and April 10th? If, depending on how the results go on April 10th, then we have to start talking about a more permanent mechanism to deal with the Sarstoon. But for now, as we have been doing for a while I was trying to push for an interim solution."