MoFA Sends Diplomatic Protest Note to Guatemala  

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca says the Government of Belize has sent a diplomatic protest note to the government of Guatemala, following a conflict between a group of Belizeans and Guatemalan Armed Forces on the Sarstoon River. The Belize Territorial Volunteers organized a trip to the Sarstoon River over the weekend. During their visit, a team of GAF soldiers rammed their boat into BTV’s vessel. According to Minister Fonseca, the incident has also been reported to the Organization of American States. He gave us further details.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We absolutely, of course, state very clearly that we, our sovereignty and territorial integrity over, a part of the Sarstoon River that is absolutely clear. The median line of the Sarstoon River is long established between Belize and Guatemala. So, anything north of that median line is Belizean waters. So, you know that that’s our very clear position.”

 

Reporter

“Minister, what do you say to Will Mejia?  Who says you all have taken a stance against Israel. That’s all the way over there. And then you have Guatemala’s military violating us here in our backyard. Why not take a more serious diplomatic stance against them, too?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“But what more serious diplomatic standing can we make? We have agreed, the people of Belize have voted for us to resolve this issue through the International Court of Justice. We are pursuing that path to a peaceful resolution on this matter.  You know, no disrespect to Will. I like Will. Will has never been in authority. He has never held power. He has never had responsibility for making decisions. On behalf of the Belizean people. We have that responsibility. I have that responsibility at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And we will exercise that authority with absolute competence, with absolute recognition and respect for the people of this country with their interest. It is not about being emotional and beating your chest and going down there and pretending you are big and bad. It is about doing the right thing in the interest of Belize.”