US embassy cable - 04GUATEMALA737

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000737 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, GT, BH 
SUBJECT: GOG TO IMPROVE INFORMAL TIES WITH BELIZE 
 
Classified By: PolOff Robert E. Copley for reason 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: At our request, Foreign Minister Jorge Briz 
discussed the border dispute with Ambassador Hamilton and 
British Ambassador Richard Lavers on March 17.  Briz said 
that the Berger Administration wants to develop close, 
informal ties with its Belizean counterpart and to engage in 
as many joint initiatives, both public and private, as 
possible.  The goal is to demonstrate to both populations the 
benefits of a normal relationship, thereby garnering support 
for an eventual referendum on a settlement.  According to 
Briz, Guatemala does not/not want to take the border dispute 
to the International Court of Justice, and is prepared to 
extend the confidence building measures for a full year when 
the current 90-day extension expires in May.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Briz began by stating that even if the Berger 
Administration were enthusiastic about the facilitators' 
proposed solutions (which it is not), the required referendum 
has no chance of approval by the Guatemalan public at this 
time.  Thus the task, according to Briz, is to change public 
opinion.  The Berger Administration wants to develop the sort 
of close, informal ties with its Belizean counterpart that 
will allow the two governments to demonstrate the benefits of 
a more normal relationship to their respective populations. 
Guatemala's approach will be to pursue as many joint 
initiatives, both public and private, with Belize as 
possible.  Briz hopes that Belize can be sold on the 
advantages of developing this kind of relationship and will 
avoid what he called "radical" positions. 
 
3.  (C) Briz said Guatemala wants continued OAS involvement, 
but was vague as to how the OAS should engage.  Briz was 
emphatic that Guatemala does not/not want to take the dispute 
to the International Court of Justice at the Hague and said 
that Vice Minister Skinner-Klee's musings in Washington about 
the advantages of that route had been just that, not 
considered government opinion.  Briz also said that Guatemala 
had informed Belize that it is prepared to extend the 
confidence building measures for a full year when they expire 
in May. 
 
4.  (C) On the substance of the dispute itself, Briz was 
cautious but said Guatemala needs "juridical certainty" of 
its right to access to the sea.  Drawn out again by Lavers, 
he added that two processes, an OAS process working on the 
dispute itself, and an informal process creating the ambiance 
in both countries for a better relationship, could go forward 
in parallel.  Briz hopes to establish a mechanism for regular 
informal and friendly consultations with Belize and noted 
that, while Ambassador Martinez is a personal friend, that 
mechanism ought to be linked to some senior official in 
Belize. 
 
5.  (C) In a separate conversation with the Ambassador on 
March 19, Belizean Ambassador to Guatemala Alfredo Martinez 
said that Briz's proposal would be acceptable to Belize 
provided it leads to real progress toward eventual resolution 
of the border issue.  He suggested that patience for 
Guatemalan dilatory tactics is running thin in Belize. 
Nevertheless, Martinez said he had already developed a list 
of 11 practical measures (e.g. harmonizing the hours of 
border crossings) which would help normalize relations for 
shared benefit.  He said he had urged Briz to improve 
relations and communication by bypassing or diluting the 
power of the MFA's advisory Belize Commission. 
 
6. (C) Comment:  This was a positive meeting that shows the 
Berger Administration has been giving serious thought to the 
border dispute and recognizes the work it needs to do in 
leading public opinion toward accepting a negotiated 
solution.  We are encouraged by the GOG's new willingness to 
reach out to Belize on numerous levels in search of solutions 
to the many problems along the border.  Joint cross-border 
initiatives, whether public or private, will reduce 
opportunities for flare-ups, as will extending the confidence 
building measures.  The British government is already 
involved in many such projects, and we will look for 
opportunities to pitch in. 
HAMILTON