The last time Belize - Guatemala relations was in the news, it was back in July when acting OAS secretary general Luigi Einaudi visited the two countries. Einaudi later drafted a proposal to renew the confidence building measures and outlined a plan for new negotiations. That was months ago and today foreign affairs minister Godfrey Smith stated in the house that since then there is nothing new to report - except that we are getting closer to taking the matter to the International Court of Justice.
Hon. Godfrey Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Madam Speaker, the truth is that since the facilitator's proposals, we have not made any significant progress towards the resolution of this matter. Members of the honorable house will recall that in his state of the nation address at the special sitting of the house held on September 17th of this year, the prime minister himself said, 'perhaps the time has come for us to seriously consider taking this matter to the international court of justice. But that, of course, is a matter that we would have to put to you the people in a national referendum.' The government of Belize have engaged in these negotiations in full consultation with the national advisory council and with all the diligence and care due to this issue of supreme national importance. This approach will continue to guide all future negotiations and decision making on this issue."