7 News Belize

PM’s Meeting With Morales was Cordial, Cool
posted (November 30, 2015)
While President Elect Morales' arrival had a hostile greeting on Coney Drive, the atmosphere inside the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday morning was friendly and courteous.

A Press release from the government says, quote,

"they both congratulated each other for their respective recent victories at the polls. Prime Minister Barrow and President-elect Morales discussed the bilateral relations between Belize and Guatemala, including a way forward in respect of resolving our historical differences. They agreed to continue along the path set out in the Framework Agreement and Confidence Building Measures of 2005…" End Quote.

That's a lot more passive and diplomatic when compared to Morales' pre and post campaign trail comments concerning the territorial claim. On Saturday, Prime Minister Barrow told the media that he made the point to Morales that as the next president of Guatemala, he must foster the progress in friendly relations that both countries have worked so hard to cultivate:

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"It was very cordial. We spoke about the nature of the bi-lateral relations. He indicated that he is committed to working the process. I told him that I appreciated that. He must understand that the pencil of God has no eraser. We are going to be geographically contiguous - we are going to be neighbors forever. There are mechanisms in place. The professional relationship I think is good between the militaries, between our foreign ministries, the people to people interaction is good. There are trade ties. There are ties of commerce. There are educational exchanges. We spoke about the children from Melchor who come across to go to school in Benque and I was very clear that both sides needed to understand that the confidence building measures, the protocols in place and the all-important factor of goodwill - all must be put into the pot, stirred properly to ensure that we avoid flashpoints, to ensure that we can live in peace and good neighborliness respecting each other's sovereignty while the question of dispute or claimed is being resolved by legal means."

So, why the short notice and the GSU media blockade? Well, the Prime Minister said that the Guatemalans requested that this courtesy call be low-key:

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"He already walked back from those comments. He walked back from those comments before arriving in Belize and this morning I was quite clear as was he, that we are talking about proceeding on the basis of mutual respect - two sovereign countries operating a set of mechanisms because there is a dispute. But operating both on the basis on individual sovereignty and commitment based on that sovereignty."

Daniel Ortiz
"A lot has been made of the late press release from the government and the appearance of secrecy that was involved in his arrival."

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No. There is no question of any secrecy. We sent out a press release which you will get later. He indicated... well I have also seen the media saying Belize is an afterthought, that he wasn't intending on coming and then just at the last minute. He met with Ambassador Alexis Rosado on the 6th of November. Two days after the elections and from then indicated that Belize was part of the itinerary. I've seen situations before where things are said, people indicate they will come to visit and then it doesn't happen. We were not going to say anything until we had a firm date."

Reporter
"In other countries, he was allowed to talk with the press. Why weren't we allowed to talk to him?"

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"They requested that the visit be low-key and that we not arrange any media."

Reporter
"We or they?"

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Ma'am, it was their indication that they did not wish to speak to the press. I am speaking to the press. That is my obligation. He can decide whether he wants to speak to the press or not."

In the official press release, the Government noted that President Elect Jimmy Morales extended a special and personal invitation to Prime Minister Barrow to his Presidential Inauguration. When we asked him if he will attend, he said that if his health permits, he'll be there:

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Health permitting, yes I will go. He sent a personal invitation which had already in fact been foreshadowed by a meeting I had on Wednesday with his ambassador here. But he ask could I make a special effort to go as sending the right signal to back up what we discussed, that both of us must be committed to this peaceful process and to the development of friendly relations."

Morales' Presidential Inauguration takes place on January 14, 2016.

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