On Friday we told you about the diplomatic needle Belize is trying to thread as it opposes Guatemala's candidacy for the rotating seat on the United Nations' Security Council. Guatemala is the choice of the United States, and the only other candidate is U.S. rival, Venezuela.
On Friday Prime Minister Said Musa said that Belize cannot be expected to support Guatemala because of the differendum and is asking its CARICOM allies to take that position when heads of government meet next month in St. Kitts and Nevis.
So, in opposing Guatemala, it follows logically that Belize and her allies end up supporting the other candidate for the seat, Venezuela, but somewhere between opposing and supporting, there's a fine shading of meaning, and CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amalia Mai, says that's precisely where Belize stands: it cannot support Guatemala, and expects CARICOM to stand in solidarity with that position. But, according to Mai, we have not asked those CARICOM nations to support Venezuela. Sounds a bit like splitting hairs, but for Belize, caught between the generosity of Chavez and the animosity of the United States, it is a necessary middle ground.
But there is a caveat that would induce Belize and its allies to abandon that position. On Friday, Prime Minister Musa stated that the illegal Santa Rosa settlement continues to be a fundamental stumbling block in good faith negotiations between Belize and Guatemala. Belize wants the settlement and its 98 residents removed, and international partners have put up $2 million and allocated land for its relocation.
But while land and money may be there, apparently the political will is lacking and Belmopan sees this as an opportunity to budge Guatemala, or urge the U.S. to do so. CEO Mai says that Belize has advised its CARICOM allies that if Santa Rosa is relocated, CARICOM countries would no longer have to stand in solidarity with Belize on the anti-Guatemala vote.
That vote comes up in October; and the winner will take up the seat in January and hold it for two years. How important is it to the USA? Today the Los Angeles Times reported that: "The Bush administration is urging Latin American countries to vote for a U.S. ally, Guatemala...warning that the populist government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez cannot be trusted on crucial issues such as Iran's nuclear program, given its 'disruptive and irresponsible behavior' in international organizations."
High stakes indeed, and OPEC nations such as Syria have declared that they will support Venezuela, as have Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Bolivia.
