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North & Central America and Caribbean
El Salvador |
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Last reviewed: 08 June 2009 |
Country information
International relations
Relations with neighbours
Honduras
In July 1969, El Salvador and Honduras fought the 100-hour Soccer War over disputed border areas and friction resulting from the 300,000 Salvadoreans who had emigrated to Honduras in search of land and employment. The catalyst was nationalistic feelings aroused by a series of soccer matches between the 2 countries. The 2 countries formally signed a peace treaty on 30 October 1980 which put the border dispute before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In September 1992 the Court issued a 400-page ruling awarding much of the disputed land to Honduras.
Alleged Salvadorean refusal to give effect to the ICJ’s judgement on the delimitation of the boundaries between the 2 countries, is an ongoing irritant and has led to Honduras raising the issue with the UN Security Council. In December 2003 the ICJ declined El Salvador's application for a revision of its 1992 ruling. El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca.
Relations with the international community
See Membership of International Organisations above.
Moves towards regional economic integration in Central America are continuing. During the early part of 2004, the 5 Central American countries concluded negotiations with the USA on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Known in Spanish as the TLC (Tratado de Libre Comercio), the agreement was signed by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. El Salvador was the first country to ratify the agreement (18 December 2004), followed by Honduras (3 March 2005), Guatemala (10 March 2005) and Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in the Autumn of 2005. This leaves Costa Rica as the only country still to ratify. Violent protests greeted ratification in Honduras and Guatemala. During 2004 and early 2005 several Central American countries signed bilateral border agreements to simplify customs procedures for goods (and tourists) passing from one country to another.
Relations with the UK
Diplomatic representation
The British Embassy in El Salvador was closed in August 2003. HM Ambassador to Guatemala is accredited additionally as non-resident Ambassador to El Salvador.
Recent inward visits
April 2004: visit by the outgoing Foreign Minister, Sra Maria Brizuela de Avila. March 2005: ARENA presidential candidate, Rodrigo Avila, visited in his capacity then as Vice Minister of Public Safety. February 2008: Minister for Environment Carlos José Guerrero Contreras visited to develop relations between UK and El Salvador in the field of climate change.
Recent outward visits
Baroness Amos represented HMG at the Presidential hand-over ceremonies in June 1999 and former Foreign Office Minister John Battle visited in July 2000. The Princess Royal visited El Salvador in April 2001. Bridget Prentice MP, Government Whip represented HMG at the Presidential hand-over ceremonies in June 2004. A delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union representing both House of Commons and House of Lords visited in June 2006.
