Guatemala and Belize: OAS Strengthens Dialogue in the Adjacency Zone

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(ANSA) - GUATEMALA, 02 SET - On September 1, the Group of Friends of Guatemala and Belize met at the office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone between the two countries. The meeting was chaired by OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin and was attended by both the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Ramiro Martinez Alvarado, and his Belizean counterpart, Francis Fonseca. Representing Italy was Permanent Observer Roberto Nocella. Guatemala and Belize are involved in a territorial dispute, the resolution of which has been referred, by mutual agreement, to the International Court of Justice. In the meantime, the OAS maintains a permanent presence in the Adjacency Zone to promote measures that strengthen mutual trust between the two states through their respective governments and militaries, investigate potential incidents, and organize vocational training initiatives for the local population. In the area of social development, courses for civil society are held in the so-called Ta’Amay centers, a Mayan term meaning “tree that grows straight.” These centers serve as community spaces to promote a culture of peace, coexistence, women’s empowerment, and new job opportunities, even for those living far from more developed areas. According to OSA sources, more than 2,000 people have benefited from these programs since 2022, and one of the four centers—the one in Santa Cruz—was established thanks to Italy’s support. In his remarks, Ambassador Nocella reaffirmed Italy’s support for all pillars of OSA’s work in the region: from the political-diplomatic dimension, through participation in the Group of Friends, to the security dimension, through funding for training courses on the use of drones and GPS systems, to the social and community dimensions. Furthermore, the Ambassador called for evaluating the possibility of replicating the Ta’Amay center model in other contexts, starting with Haiti, if and when the appropriate conditions arise. From August 30 to 31, accompanied by OSA officials, Permanent Observer Nocella also visited the four Ta’Amay centers in the Zone (Santa Cruz, Benque Viejo, Melchor de Mencos, and El Arenal), where he met with the coordinators and some of the course participants. Read article...

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