FOREIGN RELATIONS OF BELIZE
Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan
claim to Belizean territory. This dispute originated in imperial Spain's claim
to all "New World" territories west of the line established in the Treaty of Tordesillas
in 1494. Nineteenth-century efforts to resolve the problems led to later differences
over interpretation and implementation of an 1859 British-Guatemalan treaty intended
to establish the boundaries between Guatemala and Belize, then named British Honduras.
Guatemala contends that the 1859 treaty is void because the British failed to
comply with all of its economic assistance clauses. Neither Spain nor Guatemala
ever exercised effective sovereignty over the area.
Negotiations proceeded for many years, including one period in the 1960s in
which the U.S. Government sought unsuccessfully to mediate. A 1981 trilateral
(Belize, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom) "Heads of Government Agreement" was
not implemented due to disagreements. Thus, Belize became independent on September
21, 1981, with the territorial dispute unresolved. Significant negotiations between
Belize and Guatemala, with the United Kingdom as an observer, resumed in 1988.
Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1991 and diplomatic relations were
established. Negotiations between Belize and Guatemala resumed on February 25,
2000, in Miami, Florida, but were suspended due to a border incident that occurred
February 24, 2000. Further talks were held March 14, 2000, between the two countries
at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, in the presence
of the OAS Secretary General. Eventually the two parties agreed to establish an
"adjacency zone" extending one kilometer on either side of the 1859 treaty line,
now designated the "adjacency line," and to continue negotiations aimed at resolving
their dispute. The Guatemalan claim remains unresolved, however.
In order to strengthen its potential for economic and political development
Belize has sought to build closer ties with the Spanish-speaking countries of
Central America to complement its historical ties to the English-speaking Caribbean
states. Recent foreign policy initiatives include joining with the other Central
American countries in signing the CONCAUSA Agreement on regional sustainable development
and becoming a full member of the Central American Integration System (SICA) Belize
is a member of CARICOM which was founded in 1973. In 1990, it became a member
of the OAS. As a member of CARICOM Belize strongly backed efforts by the United
States to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940 designed to facilitate
the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to
contribute military personnel to the Multinational Task Force which restored the
democratically elected Government of Haiti in October 1994 and to the United Nations
Mission in Haiti (UNMIH).
U.S.-BELIZEAN RELATIONS
The United States and Belize traditionally have had close and cordial relations.
The United States is Belize's principal trading partner and major source of investment
funds and also is home to the largest Belizean community outside Belize, estimated
to be 70,000 strong. Because Belize's economic growth and accompanying democratic
political stability are important U.S. objectives in a region successfully emerging
from a prolonged period of civil strife, Belize benefits from the U.S.-Caribbean
Basin Initiative.
International crime issues dominate the agenda of bilateral relations between
the U.S. and Belize. The U.S. is working closely with the Government of Belize
to fight illicit narcotic trafficking. In 1996, the United States and Belize signed
a stolen vehicle treaty, and in 2000 they signed an extradition treaty and a mutual
legal assistance treaty (MLAT). Both governments seek to control the flow of illegal
immigrants to the U.S. through Belize.
The United States is the largest provider of economic assistance to Belize,
contributing approximately $4.17 million in various bilateral economic and military
aid programs to Belize in FY 2000. The United States provided nearly $1 million
in assistance to Belize to support its relief and recovery efforts following Hurricane
Keith, which devastated much of the country in October 2000. The U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) closed its Belize office in August 1996 after
a 13-year program during which it provided $110 million worth of development assistance
to Belize. In addition, during the past 34 years, almost 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers
have served in Belize. In April 2001, the Peace Corps had 47 volunteers working
in Belize. In Punta Gorda, the International Bureau of Broadcasting/Voice of America
(IBB/VOA) operates a medium-wave radio relay station which broadcasts to the neighboring
countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The U.S. military has a diverse
and growing assistance program in Belize which included the construction of seven
schools and four water wells by National Guard soldiers in Stann Creek District
in 2000. Another "New Horizons" humanitarian assistance project is scheduled for
2003. Private American investors, who are responsible for some $250 million of
investment in Belize, continue to play a key role in Belize's economy, particularly
in the tourism sector.
Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Belize
former:
British Honduras
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Government type: |
parliamentary democracy
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Administrative divisions: |
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
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Independence: |
21 September 1981 (from UK)
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National holiday: |
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
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Constitution: |
21 September 1981
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Legal system: |
English law
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister
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Legislative branch: |
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next to be held by NA August 2003)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PUP 59.2%, UDP 40.8%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
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Political parties and leaders: |
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW, Doug SINGH]
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Diane HAYLOCK]; United Worker's Front
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International organization participation: |
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
chancery:
2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 332-9636
FAX:
[1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy:
29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address:
P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone:
[501] (2) 77161
FAX:
[501] (2) 30802
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Flag description: |
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
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