For the second time since joining the Central American Integration System - SICA Belize will take up its presidency. At a swearing in to be held later this week in Costa Rica. Belize will take over SICA for 6 months starting in January of next year. Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay explains that Belize will be pushing agenda's to see Belize more involved in Central American matters. But as we do so Belize's tenure as president will be confronted with major challenges which include the flare up of the banana wars. Courtenay explains.
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Trying to continue to bridge the divide between the Central America and the Caribbean. One of the big issues right now of course is the banana war that is starting again between the ACP countries and the Latin American suppliers and exporters of bananas to the European Union. So it will be a very heavy agenda, we are ready. Our position is with the ACP and we are not on any side of Central American exporters and the Latin American exporters, primarily Ecuador.
In this issue we last week joined the dispute settlement process that Ecuador has started, in fact there is a meeting tomorrow in Geneva where the initial meeting between the European Commission and Ecuador will take place. We along with other ACP members will be represented there.
We are advocating for the tariff which is what is paid by the Latins as a hundred and seventy six Euros per ton, we are advocating for it to remain there and that we will also have an agreement with the European Union that provides a remunerative price for banana exports from Belize and the Caribbean over the future.
What we want really is good prices and a quota that is sufficient to accommodate our needs of about a hundred thousand tons."
During Belize's tenure there are some 40 plus meetings scheduled to be hosted by Belize. These will include in areas of health, education, environment and sustainable development among others.
