Heads of Agreement (document)

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The Heads of Agreement was a 1981 document proposing a solution to the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. Created in February and signed on March 11 in London, England, the agreement sought to propose future bases for negotiations between Great Britain, Belize and Guatemala over the dispute.

Contents 1 Background 2 Clauses 3 Reaction 4 Failed negotiations 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Background

Guatemala had long claimed the territory of Belize as theirs, citing the law of uri possedetis juris through the dominion of Spain. The United Nations had demanded a satisfactory resolution to the claim and the independence of Belize before the end of 1981, in 1980. Another round of negotiations began in January, 1981, out of which came the Heads.

[edit] Clauses

1. The United Kingdom and Guatemala shall recognize the independent state of Belize as an integral part of Central America, and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with its existing and traditional frontiers subject, in the case of Guatemala, to the completion of the treaties necessary to give effect to these Heads of Agreement.
2. Guatemala shall be accorded such territorial seas as shall ensure permanent and unimpeded access to the high seas, together with its rights over the seabed thereunder.
3. Guatemala shall have the use and enjoyment of the Ranguana and Sapodilla Cayes, and rights in those areas of the sea adjacent to the Cayes, as may be agreed.
4. Guatemala shall be entitled to free port facilities in Belize City and Punta Gorda.
5. The road from Belize City to the Guatemalan frontier shall be improved; a road from Punta Gorda to the Guatemalan frontier shall be completed. Guatemala shall have freedom of transit on these roads.
6. Belize shall facilitate the construction of oil pipelines between Guatemala and Belize City, Dangriga and Punta Gorda.
7. In areas to be agreed, an agreement shall be concluded between Belize and Guatemala for purposes concerned with the control of pollution, navigation and fishing.
8. There shall be areas of the seabed and the continental shelf to be agreed for the joint exploration and exploitation of minerals and hydrocarbons.
9. Belize and Guatemala shall agree upon certain development projects of mutual benefit.
10. Belize shall be entitled to any free port facilities in Guatemala to match similar facilities provided to Guatemala in Belize.
11. Belize and Guatemala shall sign a treaty of cooperation in matters of security of mutual concern, and neither shall permit its territory to be used to support subversion against the other.
12. Except as foreseen in these Heads of Agreement, nothing in these provisions shall prejudice any rights of interests in Belize or of the Belizean people.
13. The United Kingdom and Guatemala shall enter into agreements designed to reestablish full and normal relations between them.
14. The United Kingdom and Guatemala shall take the necessary action to sponsor the membership of Belize in the United Nations, Organization of American States, Central American organizations and other international organizations.
15. A joint Commission shall be established between Belize, Guatemala and the United Kingdom to work out details to give effect to the above provisions. It will prepare a treaty or treaties for signature by the signatories to these Heads of Agreement.
16. The controversy between the United Kingdom and Guatemala over the territory of Belize shall therefore be honorably and finally ended.

[edit] Reaction

Main article: Heads of Agreement Crisis

The document's release provoked strong public outcry and opposition. The Heads were almost unilaterally rejected. There were protests, rallies and strikes by public servants leading to a brief state of emergency. The Government insisted in vain that nothing had in fact been agreed on.

[edit] Failed negotiations

With the subsiding of the March and April riots, negotiations began on May 20, 1981 in New York. Belizean ministers C.L.B. Rogers, V.H. Courtenay and Assad Shoman represented Belize. The opposition United Democratic Party, claiming that they had been ignored and insulted, refused to attend. This first round of negotiations yielded no results.

A second round began in early July after the UDP met with British Foreign Secretary Nicholas Ridley. Again there was no clear settlement and the British resolved to grant Belize independence and agree to defend the territory. The proclamation for Belize's independence on September 21, 1981 was signed on July 26, 1981.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Heads of Agreement Crisis