SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES PERSEVERANCE IN RESOLVING BORDER DISPUTE

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES PERSEVERANCE IN RESOLVING BORDER DISPUTE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has been following with interest the Belize-Guatemala Facilitation Process designed to assist the Governments of Belize and Guatemala achieve a peaceful resolution of the longstanding territorial controversy between the two countries.

The Secretary-General notes with satisfaction that significant progress has been made since the process began in August 2000 under the auspices of the Organization of American States.  He now wishes to urge the parties to persevere in concluding outstanding issues.  In so doing, he emphasizes that a permanent, just and equitable solution will benefit the peoples of Belize and Guatemala, and signal a new relationship between these Central American neighbours. 

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