The 44th SICA Summit (Central American Integration System) in Placencia, Belize played host to a historic signing of 13 bilateral agreements between Belize and Guatemala. The moment marks a major breakthrough in decades-long conflict between both nations.
The new agreement addresses multiple concerns, such as the prisoner exchanges, visa waivers for students and deportation reform. The agreements were signed by Foreign Ministers Wilfred Elrington and Carlos Raul Morales
“Guatemala and Belize will be neighbors forever and for this reason we want to live in peace and we’re partners in the development of our populations, ” said President Otto Pérez Molina on the announcement. “Guatemala does not now, and will not at any time in the future present an existential threat to Belize. We wish to leave the matter of our territorial dispute in the hands of the International Court of Justice, and move ahead with promoting good and friendly relations between our two countries.”
“First, we got here because both of us desire to live in peace, side by side, in friendly neighborly relations,” said Belie’s Prime Minister Dean Barrow. “Second, because after decades of unsuccessful negotiations the time had come for us to enhance our cooperation and build confidence between our governments and peoples. This a giant step for our two countries.”
