Mexican President Vicente Fox concluded his whirlwind 22-hour state visit to Belize this morning and is in Tegucigalpa Honduras tonight for a regional summit.
After a hectic first 8 hours in Belmopan yesterday with an address to the National Assembly, a press conference, and a meeting with government officials - President Fox was transported back by a Mexican Air Force helicopter to Belize City.
In the city he made courtesy calls on Leader of the Opposition dean barrow and former Prime Minister George Price. His night was capped off by a state dinner at the Government House of Culture. There Fox was presented with Belize's highest honor, the Order of Belize. Here is a replay of that presentation made
by Prime Minister Said Musa.
Rene Villanueva, Emcee
"To all and singular to whom these presence shall come, greetings. His excellency the Governor General of Belize, the Chancellor of the national honors and awards has invested, and by these presence do invest, in his excellency Vicente Fox Quesada, President of the United Mexican States the Order of Belize as witnessed by my signed manual in Belmopan this 28th Day of June 2005. Signed Sir Colville M. Young. Governor General of Belize."
After that presentation, President Fox conferred the Mexican Order of the Eagle on Prime Minister Musa. The Order of the Eagle is not Mexico's highest honor but rather a recognition for heads of states. Fox's official state visit to Belize concluded this morning with a motorcade to the MCC grounds. There he departed in one of 5 waiting Mexican Air Force helicopters which had landed on the football field.
Prime Minister Said Musa was there for the farewell but it wasn't a final goodbye since the PM hitched a ride along with Fox to a summit of leaders from Central America and Mexico on Tuxtla-Gutierrez. Tuxtla-Guiterrez is a cooperation agreement signed in 1991 by Central American Nations and Mexico. Tomorrow the focus will be on SICA at its 25th Ordinary Assembly.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
