HC Deb 13 July 1977 vol 935 cc418-9

(1) Representatives of the Governments of Guatemala and of the United Kingdom met in Washington on 6/7 July in a third round of negotiations at Ministerial level to discuss the question of Belize. The Guatemalan side was led by Dr. Adolfo Molina Orantes, Foreign Minister of Guatemala. The British side was led by Mr. Ted Rowlands MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The British delegation included the Hon. George Price, Premier of Belize and an all-party delegation.

(2) There was a detailed discussion of the means by which the controversy over the future of Belize might be solved peacefully and harmoniously, taking into account the interests of all parties. In the course of these discussions both sides put forward proposals for resolving the question. It was agreed that the proposals submitted would be the subject of the most careful study in order to pursue the negotiations to a peaceful solution acceptable to all parties.

(3) Among other matters the British side explained the procedures that have been followed to bring dependent territories to independence, pointing out that such procedures inevitably took time and were always public and were never secret. There could not therefore be any sudden move to independence for Belize.

(4) It was also agreed that the British Minister would visit Guatemala as soon as possible in order to discuss the means of reducing tension and the next stages in the negotiations. Thereafter a date for the next meeting will be decided.

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