7 News Belize

OAS Statement Makes It Clear, Kind Of
posted (May 5, 2016)
So, PUP leader John Briceno still has to get permission from his National Party Council, and the party still has to get a full briefing on exactly what was discussed in Washington. Some hint of that came last night in a press release from the OAS. As we told you at the tail end of the news, Government said that it was cautiously optimistic about the Belize-Guatemala meetings in Washington. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro met with Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, and his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Raul Morales as well as the US Ambassador to the OAS, Michael Fitzpatrick. Seen here in these photos, Morales, Almagro, and Elrington discussed the recent border incidents, and Almagro informed both sides that a deployment of a group of experts is imminent to the Cebada area of the Chiquibul. They will be there to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances which led to the death of 13 year-old Guatemalan, Julio Alvarado Ruano.

The OAS Statement says, quote, "The OAS Secretary General further called on the Parties to adopt a cooperation mechanism as soon as possible to normalize the situation in the Sarstoon River so that both the peoples and governments of Belize and Guatemala can refocus on strengthening their good neighborly relations." End quote.

So, what about the Guatemalan hardline of continuing to accuse the BDF unlawfully killing the 13 year-old Guatemalan national in Belizean territory?

Well, the OAS statement is missing any acknowledgment of the Guatemalans' disregard for Annex C of the Confidence Building measures. That's the part of the CBM's which mandates that the officials of both country should be restrained in their public comments and avoid accusing the other side.

Well, using very ambiguous language, the OAS statement says quote, "Recalling Annex C of the Confidence Building Measures in force on the Guidelines for Public Statements, Secretary Almagro urged its strict compliance by the Parties."

Today, we asked Opposition Representative Eamon Courtenay why the OAS didn't use stronger language to condemn Guatemala's hard talk:..

Jules Vasquez
"We know that the OAS is not afraid to repudiate certain actions. Why did they not repudiate the rather egregious violations an annex C of the Confidence Building Measures which urge public officials on both sides of the adjacency line or in both countries, to exercise restraint in making public pronouncements."

Eamon Courtenay, PUP Rep., BZ, Guatemala Relations
"Now, it seems to me that the Secretary General may have used his good offices and has come out as far as he can, that is to say, from now moving forward that both sides respect annex C. He may not have felt possible to condemn or repudiate Guatemala's behavior, but we certainly in opposition categorically rejected, we have repudiated it, we have condemn Guatemala for it. We think that the statements made by the President and the outrageous statements made by the foreign minister and not only in breach by the confidence building measures, but they don't tend to peace, they don't tend to support good neighborliness and more than anything they are littered with untruths. It is the type of behavior that I would expect from some children."

As Courtney noted, the Guatemalans have been flagrant in their violations of Annex C of the Confidence Building Measures. Last week Friday, we looked at those offending public statements - here are just small samples:

Today, we asked the Prime Minister if those incendiary comments were discussed in Washington, and here's his careful response on their conduct:

Daniel Ortiz
"Were there any discussions on the language that the Guatemalan officials have used since the shooting became well known?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well you will see from the Secretary General statement that he called on both sides to adhere to what he describe as Annex C, I believe. An annex to the confidence building measures and as I understand it, that annex requires both sides to exercise restraint in their use of language and in the public positions that they take."

Daniel Ortiz
"Threading carefully, would you agree that the Guatemalans side-stepped Annex C?"

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Oh, there is no doubt of that in my mind, but the Secretary General has now made his appeal and I would hope that both sides would in fact heed that appeal and proceed accordingly."

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