TNAG-0927-FCO40-1145-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 13

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THE UN BY DECISION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE RECOMMENDATION

OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL).

(F) CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF BELIZE?

THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT LED BY MR PRICE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY

RE-ELECTED ON AN INDEPENDENCE PLATFORM FOR MANY YEARS, MOST RECENTLY

IN NOVEMBER 1979. ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF A CONSTITUTIONAL

CONFERENCE IS TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR DESIRE ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE

OF BELIZE FOR INDEPENDENCE. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE

OPPOSITION AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER INTEREST GROUPS WILL BE

INVITED.

(G) CARIBBEAN SECURITY?

BELIZE IS A DEMOCRACY. THE THREAT TO BELIZE ARISES FROM THE

DISPUTE WITH GUATEMALA AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE EFFECTIVELY

REMOVED BY NEGOTIATION. WE DO NOT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ENVISAGE

THAT BELIZE WOULD WISH OR NEED TO TURN TO CUBA FOR PROTECTION.

(H)_ FUTURE VIABILITY?

THE IMF PRODUCED A REPORT IN MAY THIS YEAR ON THE ECONOMY OF

BLLIZE WHICH LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH UNTIL

THE END OF 1984. INDEED OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCE SHOULD BE

ENCOURAGED BY INDEPENDENT STATUS, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL AMERICA,

OF WHICH BELIZE IS GEOGRAPHICALLY PART. BELIZE ALSO HAS THE

ADVANTAGE OF HER COMMONWEALTH LINKS WITH THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH

HAVE ALREADY PROVED TO BE TO HER COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE.

(I) PROSPECTS FOR SETTLEMENT WITH GUATEMALA?

WE BELIEVE THAT THE GUATEMALAMS GENUINELY DESIRE A SETTLEMENT AND

BOTH SIDES WILL, WE HOPE, CONTINUE TO WORK TO THIS END. CERTAINLY

WE SHALL DO SO. IT IT OUR EARNEST DESIRE THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS

BEGUN LAST MAY SHOULD CONTINUE IN PARALLEL WITH THE INDEPENDENCE

PROCEDURES IN THE HOPE THAT A SETTLEMENT MAY BE ACHIEVED BEFORE

INDEPENDENCE. THE GUATEMALANS MAINTAIN THAT CESSION OF AT LEAST

SOME TERRITORY WILL BE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE A SETTLEMENT. BUT WE

RESPECT THE BELIZEANS' REFUSAL TO CEDE ANY. WE DO NOT DENY THAT

FINDING THE BASIS FOR A SETTLEMENT MAY BE DIFFICULT, BUT GIVEN

GOODWILL ON BOTH SIDES IT SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSSIBLE. WE BELIEVE

THAT THE GUATEMALANS DO WANT A SETTLEMENT AND ARE PREPARED TO

NEGOTIATE IMAGINATIVELY TO THAT END.

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/(J) SAVING

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