OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC
July 31, 2012
A high-level Ministerial meeting was held at the headquarters of the OAS on July 31, 2012. The meeting was called to address a number of sensitive and pending issues that were confronting the AZ and both countries due, in part, to a series of events and incidents that had raised tensions on both sides.
This Ministerial meeting helped to diffuse tensions by offering an avenue for frank discussion and dialogue at a high level. In addition, the meeting touched on the preparations for the October 6, 2013 referendum. Both parties presented on their preparatory efforts and offered plans and ideas of how to proceed with the process. Belize and Guatemala made preliminary budgetary indications and recognized that exterior financial assistance would be absolutely necessary to raise the needed funds for a successful sensitization and referendum process.
In conclusion, both parties requested assistance from the OAS in preparing for the referendum and the OAS agreed to arrange for a gathering of countries—in and outside the Group of Friends—at the margins of an upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss financing.
Participants in this meeting included:
| BELIZE | GUATEMALA | OAS |
| Alexis Rosado CEO Ministry Foreign Affairs |
Carlos Raul Morales Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Kevin Casas-Zamora Secretary of Political Affairs |
| Nestor Mendez Ambassador to the OAS |
Rodrigo Vielmann Ambassador to the OAS |
Raul J. Lago Representative of the Secretary General for Belize and Guatemala |
| Alfredo Martinez Ambassador to Guatemala |
Gustavo Orellana Secretary of the Belize Commission |
Jean Michel Arrighi Secretary of Legal Affairs |
| BG Dario Tapia Commander of Defense Force |
Manuel Tellez Ambassador to Belize |
Magdalena Talamas Chief of the OAS Peace Fund |
| Lisa M. Shoman Senator, and Representative of the Opposition Party |
Carlos Aldana Chancellery Advisor |
|
| Kendall Belisle First Secretary Embassy of Belize |
Luis F Andrade Chancellery Advisor |
|
| Lauren Quiros Second Secretary |
Fernando Ruiz the Belize Commission |