Belmopan. May 16, 2016. The Government of Belize announces that talks between Belize and Guatemala over a cooperation mechanism for the Sarstoon River, will take place on Saturday, May 21st 2016.
The talks are to be held in Istanbul, Turkey where Belize Foreign Minister Hon. Wilfred Elrington will travel following his attendance at the Taipei inauguration ceremonies for the new President of Taiwan. For the talks, Minister Elrington will head a delegation that will include Ambassador H.E. Alexis Rosado. The Opposition People’s United Party has been invited to name a representative to join the Belize delegation. Guatemala’s delegation is expected to be led by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Raul Morales.
The commitment of both Guatemala and Belize to find a way forward regarding the Sarstoon, was given to the Organization of American States (OAS) at the meeting convened between the two sides in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 by OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro. The cooperation mechanism envisaged by that commitment is to eliminate the military tension at the Sarstoon created by the maintenance of the respective positions of Belize and Guatemala regarding rights over the river. Secretary General Almagro has declared, and both sides have agreed, that notwithstanding those positions which neither side will relinquish, a mechanism must be found to guarantee peaceful use, stability, and navigational security at the Sarstoon River. It is therefore expected that if the Istanbul talks do not produce any immediate final agreement, the OAS will host follow up meetings in Washington D.C.
