By Belize Live News Staff: Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca says Belize will continue facing tensions in the Sarstoon area until the International Court of Justice delivers a final judgment on the Belize Guatemala territorial dispute.
Fonseca was responding to the latest incident in the Sarstoon, where Belizean participants encountered a heavy presence of Guatemalan military and civilian vessels.
He said the Government of Belize remains committed to a peaceful resolution and will continue pursuing dialogue with Guatemala despite repeated confrontations in the area.
Fonseca said the Government is relieved that no one was injured during the latest incident.
He confirmed that Belize will once again send a diplomatic note protesting the actions of the Guatemalan Armed Forces.
According to Fonseca, each incident is formally recorded so that Belize’s objection to what it considers an illegal exercise of authority in the Sarstoon is clearly documented.
He said the Government’s response does not stop at diplomatic notes, noting that discussions also take place directly between foreign ministers and at the level of Prime Minister John Briceño and Guatemala’s president.
Fonseca stressed that the objective is to maintain communication and reduce the risk of confrontation while both countries await the ICJ’s decision.
He also acknowledged that the Guatemalan military tends to increase its presence in the Sarstoon around the September celebrations period because the Belize Territorial Volunteers publicly announce their annual visits.
