Foreign relations of Belize

Belize maintains fourteen embassies to foreign countries, one additional consulate, and three missions to international organizations. [http://www.mfa.gov.bz/representations/bze_embassies.php]

Central and South America

Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. Initially a dispute between formerly Spanish Guatemala and the United Kingdom's colony of British Honduras, Guatemala continued its claim after Belizean independence in 1981; it recognized its neighbour's independence one decade later, in 1991. The dispute remains unresolved.

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 Organization of American States.

North America and Caribbean

As a member of CARICOM Belize strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement United Nations 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).

Belize is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the American military (as covered under Article 98).

Asia

Belize maintains diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (commonly referred to as "Taiwan") instead of the People's Republic of China.

ee also

*Belizean diplomatic missions
*List of diplomatic missions in Belize

External links

* [http://www.bzhc-lon.co.uk/ Belizean High Commission in London, United Kingdom]
* [http://www.britishhighbze.com British High Commission in Belmopan]
* [http://www.embajadadebelize.org/ Embassy of Belize in Guatemala City, Guatemala]
* [http://www.embassyofbelize.org Embassy of Belize in Washington, D.C.]
* [http://www.belizeasia.com/EMBROC/ Embassy of Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize City]
* [http://belize.usembassy.gov/ United States Embassy in Belmopan]
* [http://www.mfa.gov.bz/library/documents/LegalOpinionon.pdf Legal Opinion on Guatemala's Territorial Claim to Belize] and [http://www.belize-guatemala.gov.bz/library/legal_opinion/welcome.html MFA Library] and [http://www.belize-guatemala.gov.bz/ Other Documents]

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*factbook
*StateDept