Today the Foreign Minister said that he is "disappointed" in Guatemala's press release in which they blamed the BDF for "provocations" on the Sarstoon River. As we have reported, it was the Guatemalan Armed Forces who came into Belizean territory on multiple occasions - including on the 10th of September, where they planted their flag on Sarstoon Island, which belongs to Belize.
But are these actions really just by the "old guard" in the military as the PM put it? Or does GOB have to accept that the Guatemalan army is engaging in doublespeak - telling the ministers one thing and their citizens another?
Here's what the FM told us.
Reporter:
"What's your reaction to their press release in which they distorted the narrative of what happened over the weekend and on the tenth as well as the end of the release where it says there could never be a Sarstoon protocol?"
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Very disappointing, we responded as you know to that release with our own release in which we categorically rejected their statements, distortions in the face of clear video evidence to the contrary. So it's very disappointing but as I mentioned in this dialogue we can today, we have to be smart and we have to be strategic. We don't want to play into the hands of the hardliners and the old guard in Guatemala who are not only seeking to undermine any progress between Belize and Guatemala, they're seeking to undermine their own government. Belize has to be strategic and smart and we don't play into that. We have to defend our position very firmly and consistently and strongly but not get caught up in their internal politics. And of course as I mentioned, we all know the long history of military rule in Guatemala and so the military whether we like it or not continues to play a prominent role in the governance structure of Guatemala. We have to be cognizant of that, we have to understand that, and we have to make sure when we are responding and making decisions that we recognize that."
Reporter:
"But the release did come out of the Ministry Foreign Affairs, you've spoken to the minister, you guys have been in constant, but doesn't it feel disrespectful that they will tell you one thing and then go and put out a release that says something completely different?"
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Yeah, as I said, very disappointing. We've had very good discussion, very positive, productive talks between myself and the very positive, productive, talks between myself, the foreign minister, our national security ministers met with theirs. So, you know, it's sometimes very confusing to understand where they stand and what is happening. But as I said, we appreciate that there are many other factors at play within Guatemala. And we have to be cognizant of that and appreciate that as we move forward and make our decisions."
But what about sanctions for Guatemala? Belizeans on social media have been calling for the closure of the border - or at the very least discouraging residents from going over to Melchor. Fonseca says that's not the route they're going to take.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Yeah, I don't think that that would be productive at this time. I don't think that's productive at this time. We are pursuing a final, definitive, peaceful resolution through the courts. What we have to do is stand our ground, make sure that we continue to maintain our presence along the borders and the Sarstoon River maintain or a strong position in terms of our territorial integrity, as I keep saying, and national sovereignty and make sure very importantly, as you saw, our diplomacy works, we engaged very immediately and quickly with Caricom, with Commonwealth, with other organizations who came out in very, very strong terms to defend Belize's position, and to condemn Guatemala's actions. So we have to continue to do that. We can't react, as I said, we can't react to every incident and want a sort of knee jerk response, to say, oh, we'll do this. We'll close the borders. I don't think that would be productive at this time. What we have to do is keep our friends informed, our friends and diplomatic partners informed of what we're doing, and continue to engage meaningfully with other organizations that support Belize's right to self-determination, Belize's right to exist, peacefully and coexist with Guatemala peacefully."
