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Why Belize Did Not Stand With Trump, Despite Threats
posted (December 22, 2017)
So, as you heard in Ambassador Nikki Haley's speech to the UN General Assembly, the United States appears to interpret the actions of those countries which supported the vote as an "attack".

Belize supported the vote, and so today, we sought out Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington for comment on the possible negative consequences of that decision.

In his interview with us, Elrington read from the letter that Ambassador Lois Young sent to US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, in response to her letter stating that President Trump was watching how each nation votes. Here's what Belize wrote to the US:

Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Belize does not question the bonafides or sovereign right of the United States' position in choosing to activate a law passed by the US Congress. Belize is of the view that the US' declaration in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will as a matter of fact caused irreversible damage to any peace negotiations going forward."

"Historically, these had been premise on a two states solution Israel and Palestine with the status of Jerusalem left as a final matter for determination. Importantly, for the past 15 years no less a body than the United Nations Security Council has affirm a vision of a region where 2 states: Israel and Palestine live side by side together, side by side within secure and recognized borders."

"The international community in consistently reaffirming the 2 state solution has emphasized that the status of Jerusalem is a final status issue to be negotiated by the parties. This position has been reaffirm various agreements including the Camp David Accords, the Oslo accords and the roadmap for peace proposed by the middle east all of which include the Unites States as a key interlocutor. Accordingly, when Belize voices tomorrow, that is the vote, accordingly when Belize votes tomorrow that is Thursday December 21, 2017 we will vote in accordance with our conscience and international law."

"Belize has always consider United States as a friend and a good country. We like to think these sentiments are reciprocated. Belize's vote on this particular issue should therefore not be seen as a vote against United States, but merely as showing respect for international law and states sovereignty."

So, from there, we asked the Foreign Affairs Minister if the Government is bracing for a shift of relations with the US. Very often on this newscast, we show you major financial donations that the US Government makes to Belizean law enforcement for regional security initiatives. So, we wondered whether those may be at risk of being cut, and when he asked the Foreign Minister about it, he said that he doesn't think that will happen. Here's how he explained it:

Daniel Ortiz
"Is it a concern for you that maybe those in Washington may interpret that way that Belize took that sort of adversarial stance against the US?"

Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I think the prevailing view is that the position at the United Nations that was taken by the general assembly was the correct one and that there is a possibility that there is going to be some negative fallout from it. But that is the price that countries who believe that they have a principle position and must maintain a principle position have to be prepared to take."

"It's not all the time that you are faced with these kinds of difficult situations, because the perception could be that you are voting against the interest of the United States. But that is not the case at all. That is not the intention. That is not the desire, but we believe that we have got to be consistent and be respectful of international law."

"The position we always take is that where you have disputed territory, we think that one should hold ones position one way or the other until the matter is resolved by some tribunal that is internationally accepted. That is the position we take with respect to Palestine and Israel. That is the position we take with Belize and Guatemala. We believe that we should not make any pronouncement on the matter one way or the other until internationally accepted, tribunal makes a final pronouncement on it."

Daniel Ortiz
"President Donald Trump, even in his own country, is a controversial figure. Is it a concern for you as foreign minister that whenever Belize has to take a principled position against any of the policies that he rolls out, there may be concern that there is negative fallout because of that for Belize?"

Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"Belize is a very tiny country. It is not one that is really in the radar of the United States and notwithstanding the pronouncement of presidents of the United States. Unites States is a huge country which have different systems and those systems work notwithstanding pronouncement made their presidents. So what the president says is nor necessary the final decision and that is not necessary converted into policy, so that because we are so tiny and because of the nature of the system that operates in United States."

Only 9 nations sided with the US and voted against against the UN resolution yesterday, while 35 abstained. Interestingly, Belize's neighbors Guatemala and Honduras were two of those supporting the US by voting against the resolution. Mexico abstained.

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