FM Fonseca Discusses Latest Sarstoon Encounter with GAF

Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca was in Guatemala recently on an official visit where he met with several diplomatic counterparts, including the foreign minister of Guatemala, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  He was there to discuss the regional issue of migration, but took the opportunity to raise Belize’s concern in the wake of the latest face-off between the Guatemalan Armed Forces and the Belize Defense Force on Sarstoon River.

 

Francis Fonseca, Foreign Minister

“I was in Guatemala from Monday to Wednesday participating in the follow-up meeting of what they call the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.  The prime minister had attended the first meeting last year and this was a follow-up meeting with foreign ministers from Central America, Latin America and a few from the Caribbean, as well, along with the U.S Secretary of State, Secretary Blinken.  So that’s why I was there.  So Belize was able to make a presentation on the challenges we are facing in terms of migration and border security.  But I also used the opportunity as well to meet with representatives of the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Homeland Security Department, as well, to share with them some of these challenges.  And of course I had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart in Guatemala, the Guatemalan foreign minister, and we had a very frank, open dialogue.  I, of course, raised the issue of, as you describe it, these flare-ups that have been taking place and I really think we had a very positive, constructive dialogue and discussion on this matter.  I made it very clear, Belize’s position in terms of our sovereignty and territorial integrity and we agreed that it was important for us to have a more structured approach to communicating, both at the military level and at the diplomatic level.  But I think what’s most important is that both of the foreign ministers agreed that these matters are to be resolved diplomatically.”