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North & Central America and Caribbean

Belize

 Flag of Belize

Last reviewed: 10 August 2009

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

When Guatemala became independent in 1821, it claimed it had inherited the previous Spanish claim to the Southern part of Belize. Belize became self-governing in 1964. From 1975 successive UN resolutions endorsed Belize's right to self-determination, independence and territorial integrity. In 1981 Belize became an independent state recognised by all nations except Guatemala. As relations improved, Guatemala recognised Belize as a sovereign and independent state in September 1991, though maintaining a territorial claim on Belize.

Since 2000, Belize and Guatemala have held a series of meetings under the auspices of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in an attempt to resolve the territorial dispute through peaceful negotiation. On 8 November 2000, Belize and Guatemala signed an Agreement on Confidence Building Measures (CBM's) which provided a framework for managing disagreements and preventing incidents in the Adjacency Zone (Buffer Zone extending 1km east and west of the border line).

Two OAS-sponsored facilitators, one each appointed by Belize and Guatemala, presented comprehensive recommendations to the Governments of Belize and Guatemala on 16 September 2002, proposing how the dispute could be settled and calling for referendums within 60 days of an agreement being signed. Both governments made the proposals public on 17 September. Although the Belize Government publicly supported the recommendations, the Guatemalan Government felt it could not.

Since then, the Governments of Belize and Guatemala have been working with the OAS to secure an agreement to extend the CBM's as well as a process for maintaining the OAS facilitators' recommendations. Both governments signed an agreement at the OAS Headquarters in Washington on 7 February 2003 covering these two issues. In late August 2003 Guatemala officially notified the OAS it could not accept the recommendations as they stood, citing constitutional difficulties. In the meantime, the OAS established a 'Group of Friends' to encourage Belize and Guatemala to resolve their dispute. The UK agreed to become a member of the 'Group of Friends' on 1 September 2003.

In September 2005 Belize and Guatemala signed a Framework for Negotiation and Confidence Building Measures agreement. The Framework for Negotiation agreed that both sides, with OAS facilitation, would meet every 45 days and look to resolve the issues subject to dispute whilst the Confidence Building Measures aimed to build confidence between both sides, particularly in the Adjacency Zone created in 2002.  In November 2007 the Secretary General of the OAS determined that it was not possible to agree on any of the issues and he recommended that the differendum be submitted to independent arbitration. In December 2008 , under the auspices of the OAS, the Foreign Ministers for Belize and Guatemala signed a Special Agreement publicly setting out their intention to take the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for international arbitration.  The Special Agreement also set out the rules of engagement for the ICJ case and the question to be asked at the national referendums (which are required in both countries before the case can be referred to the ICJ).  The UK supports this route as a means to find a long term and sustainable resolution to the differendum.

FCO Minister’s comments on signing of the Special Agreement

Relations with the International Community

Belize is a member of the Commonwealth, UN and OAS. It has strong ties with English-speaking Caribbean states through its membership of CARICOM and has sought to strengthen ties with its neighbours in Central America through its membership of SICA.

Relations with the UK

As a Commonwealth Realm, Belize shares the same language as the UK and its political institutions are rooted in UK practice. Legal, education and health systems are established along British lines and there is a similar tradition of non-governmental organisations and respect for human rights. Aid, commercial and defence relations with the UK are also strong.

The UK supports Belize's pro-poor policies aimed at improving the quality of life for its people, and bringing about a sustainable environment. The UK continues to support Belize's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its efforts to find a peaceful resolution to its territorial dispute with Guatemala.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development/Ministry of Defence are jointly funding a number of projects aimed at reducing the potential for conflict along the Belize/Guatemala border. The UK has spent over £3.5m over since 2003 and will continue to work with the Organisation of American States (OAS) to ensure that our projects complement the OAS process aimed at facilitating a peaceful border settlement between Belize and Guatemala.

Identified as a small-scale drugs producer and involved in both the illegal drugs trade and money-laundering, the Belize government is working with both the US and the UK to combat these issues.

Recent Inbound Visits


July 2008:  Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington visits UK for UK Caribbean Forum
November 2005: Said Musa, then Prime Minister, as part of the Caribbean Heads of Government delegation meeting the British Prime Minister.
December 2003: Said Musa, then Prime Minister, as part of the Caribbean Heads of Government delegation meeting the British Prime Minister.
June 2000: Said Musa, then Prime Minister, as a Guest of Government.

Recent Outbound Visits


April 2008: Meg Munn, then FCO Minister for Latin America
January 2004: Bill Rammell, then FCO Minister for Latin America.
May 2002: Dr Denis MacShane, then FCO Minister for Latin America.
March 2002: HRH The Duke of York
April 2001: HRH The Princess Royal
July 2000: John Battle, then FCO Minister.
January 2000: Peter Kilfoyle, then Minister at the Ministry of Defence
February 1994 HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh


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Contacts

Belize, Belmopan, British High Commission

Address:

British High Commission
PO Box 91
Belmopan

Telephone:

+ (501) 822 3146 - Consular direct
+ (501) 610 1045 - Duty officer

Fax:

+ (501) 822 2761

Email: brithicom@btl.net

Office hours:

GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 1400-1800/1900-2200
Fri: 1400-2000

Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1200/1300-1600
Fri: 0800-1400

Consular section opened 9 am to noon and 1-3 pm Monday through Thursdays and 10 am to 2 pm on Fridays

Website: http://ukinbelize.fco.gov.uk/en