TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 53

CONFID

BELIZE (BRITISH HONDURAS)

1. Guatemala claims Belize (formerly named British Honduras) as part of Guatemala. Guatemala broke off diplomatic (but not trade and consular) relations with the United Kingdom in 1963 following the announcement of the introduction in Belize of a Constitution

providing for internal self government. Various attempts have been made and continue to be made to find a negotiated solution which will allow Belize to proceed to independence. UN resolutions, co-sponsored by the UK, have been approved by succeeding General Assemblies since 1975 which recognise Belize's right to self- determination, independence and territorial integrity and call for an urgent negotiated settlement. The latest resolution in 1980 was adopted by 139-0 with 7 abstentions. Guatemala did not participate in the vote and claims that the UN has no competence on the issue. A Constitutional Conference took place in April 1981 with the aim of bringing Belize to early independence. Negotiations with

Guatemala continue.

2.

There have been several occasions when Guatemalan representatives at international conferences have found a pretext for putting forward a claim to sovereignty over Belize which their Constitution claims as a Department of Guatemala. If any statement is made by Guatemalan representatives which asserts that Guatemala has sovereignty over Belize, or implies this, eg by referring to the territorial limits recognised by the Guatemalan Constitution, and is not immediately ruled out of order, or if the Guatemalan representatives refer to the breach in diplomatic relations, the United Kingdom delegation should raise a point of order and make the following statement:

''Her Majesty's Government regret that the delegation of Guatemala should use an international technical forum for

raising purely political arguments. The United Kingdom Government have no doubt as to the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over Belize and wish formally to reserve their rights on this question. If the statement of the Guatemalan representative is recorded in the official record of this Conference, I request that this statement

also be included.''

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