New chairperson appointed for Belize Advisory Council on Guatemalan Claim
|
| Published on Saturday, August 22, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
|
BELMOPAN, Belize -- Dr Gilda Lewis has been appointed chairperson of Belize's Advisory Council on the Guatemalan Claim. Lewis, a well respected academic and researcher on the Belize –Guatemala territorial dispute, succeeds Dylan Vernon.
The Advisory Council on the Guatemalan Claim has provided guidance and advice to Belize’s negotiating team during past negotiations. It is currently engaged in developing and supporting the implementation of the public education programme to inform and prepare the Belizean public for a national referendum that will determine whether the issue of the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory should be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
On 8th December 2008, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala signed a Special Agreement in Washington DC to refer the issue of Guatemala’s claim to the International Court of Justice. This would be subject to the political and legal processes of the respective countries, and would be put to their electorates in simultaneously-conducted national referenda to finally determine whether the ICJ should judge the issue.
The Belize government awaits the outcome of this as it completes its own preparation for parliamentary approval of the national referendum in Belize.
| | | | Reads : 804 | | | |
|
|
