We also spoke with Guatemala's military representative in Belize and we simply had to ask: is the Guatemalan Army interested in Belizean oil?
Gen. Leira Rodriquez,
"As a military institution we are obedient to political will. The negotiations are being conducted by a specific commission to deal with the differendum with Belize in which the military institution can only be an accessory in terms of navy matters but not to negotiate directly as part of the commission."
Alfonso Noble,
Do you think that the military has interest in Belizean oil?
Gen. Leira Rodriquez,
"No in reality for us as a military institution there is no interest in that Belize has discovered oil as a factor that will affect the negotiations. This is an ancestral question that everyone knows comes from a long time go and any development does not affect strongly on negotiations that is part of the past."
Alfonso Noble,
But it is something that the Guatemalan army has its eyes set on?
Gen. Leira Rodriquez,
"No the reality is that its not a factor. It can be considered like it is in any country but its not definitive for the armed forces have a particular interest on the discovery of a commodity like petroleum. It does not coincide with an interest by the military institution."
The regional conference hosted military bosses and representatives from Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
