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H.E. Alberto Ramdin - Assistant Secretary General - OAS
"Our position is that during an OAS meeting and the general assembly is an OAS meeing, nothing should take place, nothing should happen which can be offensive to any other member state of the Organization of American States so we will be clear to all participants in that regard. Not to go on that road or not to use that opportunity to be offensive or provocative in any way or means. So this is a commitment which we made as an organization to be very clear about that to all, including the Government of Guatemala. We will make sure that in any document presented, in whatever form, whether thats a video, a document or in whatever form that no such provocative or offensive statements or depictions are provided. That whatever is presented to the general assembly in terms of to be presented as a docment or as a video or on a screen needs to be submitted seventy two hours before so that we can see the content of it before. I will apply it as rule, very strictly to avoid things from happening which are not helpful in any process." Ramdin also briefly discussed the dispute about the referendum over the territorial differendum. If you can follow all that high tech diplomatic talk – what we're referring to is the fact that the Guatemalans have rejected the agreed upon October 6th referendum date. They want Belize to change it's referendum law and to change the date. And if we don't? Well, their president Otto Perez has been making strident declarations in the press, saying most recently, that, quote, "if Belize does not accept, we will not go to a referendum and waste 2 hundred 60 million quetzales on something that, going in, we know we will not win."

Ramdin today told the media that the OAS has to step in to hush the chatter in the press and get to real talk in private meetings.

H.E. Alberto Ramdin
"What we hear in the press and that is not the basis for making policy or to make decisions but from what we hear there is need for clarity in terms of the position of both countries with regards to the scheduled referendum. Only when that is expressed in a very formal direction, preferably at the meeting between both countries facilitated by the OAS; only then we can give consideration to what the next step can be undertaken. My understanding is that the Secretary General is going to convene a meeting of all parties as soon as possible. I cannot give you a date but a commitment is there to not have this continue for too long"

Ramdin also spoke about the work of Wil Maheia's Belize Territorial Volunteers and the involvement of the OAS in that. Adele Ramos of the Amadnala asked him about recent claims by Maheia's group on their most recent border visit.

Voice of: Adele Ramos, Amandala
"They were saying that the OAS representative was stopping them or was attempting to stop them from proceeding beyond a certain line saying 'this is the line, this is the line' and that they should not move beyond the line. They were saying well we know that is not the border, we know the border is further West and so they said that when they went further West they were surprised to see an African Palm plantation and Semi trucks and recently developed road. The OAS vehicle actually pulling up from that side of the border to where they were, suggesting to them that the OAS knew about these new developments and that these developments are in breach of the confidence building measures and Belize is not being afforded the same opportunity to undertake activities within what is called the Adjacency Zone"

H.E. Alberto Ramdin
"Let me respond to that first statement very clearly; the OAS is not partisan to any and does not have any preference any of the involved parties. As a facilitator its our role to just listen to both sides in the formal meetings and to make sure that the conversation is a positive one and that both sides get equal opportunities to present their perspectives and views and to seek for solutions. That is where the OAS is, the perception that the OAS has a preference for one of the other side is wrong. In any case the OAS office in the Adjacency Zone is there to make sure to and help the process; not become difficult in any form on any of the sides, so if there is a request made not to cross a certain line which is not considered the Adjacency Zone line then that may be a request but it is up to both countries to make sure in the context of the confidence and the confidence building measures to avoid any kind of conflict or situation to arise which can frustrate the process"