HL Deb 04 May 1994 vol 554 cc1121-3

2.48 p.m.

Lord Finsberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the High Commissioner for Belize was invited to the recent "San Jose Ministerial".

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Lord Henley)

My Lords, Belize was invited to attend San Jose X as an observer.

Lord Finsberg

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that response. Can he confirm that the invitation was issued by the Greek Foreign Minister, who then despicably withdrew it in the face of opposition from Guatemala? Are we really wise to have withdrawn the Harrier Squadron from Belize, as the enmity between Guatemala and Belize clearly still exists on the part of the former?

Lord Henley

My Lords, my noble friend is correct. As I said, Belize was originally invited to attend San Jose X as an observer. The Greek presidency extended that invitation on behalf of all EU member states. Belize accepted the invitation and accordingly arrived in Athens.

Subsequently, it became clear that the arrangements for Belize's attendance had changed from what they and we had been told. The central American delegations to the meeting did not agree to the official presence of Belize and the presidency informed the Belizean representative that she could attend only in an unofficial capacity. She therefore decided, understandably, not to attend in the downgraded capacity that was suggested.

I can inform my noble friend that we have protested strongly to the Greek Government for the mishandling of the arrangements and made clear to the meeting our view that Belize should have been present.

As regards the withdrawal of the squadron, I should inform my noble friend that the changes are taking place to force levels in Belize against the background of the improved regional situation, in particular Guatemala's recognition, in both 1991 and reaffirmed in 1993, of Belize as a sovereign and independent state. We do not believe that the recent events have adversely affected the security of Belize.

Viscount Waverley

My Lords, it is appropriate to declare that the High Commissioner is my wife and that I too was present when she left the ministerial meeting as part of an official protest.

Will the Minister confirm that the moral authority of the European Union to address matters relating to the rule of law, democracy and good manners has been severely compromised by Mr. Pangalos in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers, when he unilaterally withdrew the European Union's official invitation to Belize to participate as observers? Does the Minister agree that a public statement by the European Union, re-stating its 1991 and 1993 declarations of support for Belize's territorial integrity and independence, is now overdue, thereby creating desirable distance between European Union policy and the arbitrary actions of the Greek Minister?

Lord Henley

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord on his choice of wife. I would not like to go as far as the noble Lord in saying that it calls into question the moral authority of the European Union. What I said in response to my noble friend was that we were very disappointed at the events surrounding the Athens meeting. We think that the handling of those arrangements by the Greek presidency was not all that it should have been. Certainly we made the appropriate protest to the Greek authorities.

Lord Taylor of Gryfe

My Lords, will the Minister confirm the Answer that he gave to me on the question of the presence in Belize of British troops, when he indicated that they were optimistic about the survival and progress of democracy in Guatemala? Does he still share that view?

Lord Henley

My Lords, I am not sure that I have answered the noble Lord on these matters before. I can say yes; we are optimistic about the survival and progress of democracy in Guatemala.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, perhaps I may pursue a little further the second part of the supplementary question raised by the noble Lord, Lord Finsberg. In replying, I believe the Minister said that he was quite satisfied about relations between Guatemala and Belize. Is it not the case, however, that the Guatemalan Government have recently written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations saying that they will not drop the pursuit of their territorial claims until there is a final treaty? Can the Minister comment on that? In the light of that situation, can he say whether the Government are satisfied that withdrawing the garrison was appropriate?

Lord Henley

My Lords, the noble Baroness is quite right. The Guatemalan Government have written to the United Nations Secretary-General. There is, obviously, still a territorial dispute between the two countries. The important point is that the Guatemalan Government recognised the independence of Belize in 1991. After a change of government in 1993, the new government in Guatemala also recognised that. We believe that the situation is such that it is appropriate, after consultation with the Belizean Government, to withdraw the garrison. I can say that I am pleased that a military presence will continue to be available in Belize in the form of a resident training team. We will continue to offer assistance to the Belizean defence force, which assumed responsibility for the defence of its own country on 1st January this year. We will continue to deploy regular company strength units as part of their jungle training in Belize.