OAS Says No Sarstoon Protocol Without Agreement From Both Nations

As it relates to a protocol at the Sarstoon, the Guatemalan government has recently rejected that idea.  It is an idea that came about in 2015, but ten years later, there is no protocol.  The media asked OAS Secretary General if the Sarstoon Protocol is something they would push for but was told that the Sarstoon is not a part of the adjacency zone.  He also noted that the OAS can only pursue something agreed to by both countries.

Albert Ramdin, Secretary General, OAS: “The OAS can assist if both countries are requesting such an assistance. Certainly, when it’s about border issues like this you need both countries to be involved in terms of request. The OAS, I must say, stands ready to assist if so requested. And at the same time we know that realities in both countries need to be taken account of as well. Again, although I must say that the Sarstoon River is not part of the Adjacency Zone, it’s not within the Adjacency Zone, that was determined a long time ago, I must say that we must be pleased that both countries have engaged at the proper high diplomatic levels with all their peripheral parties to avoid any kind of escalation. And that is what we expect from responsible governments. So, again, compliments to both governments, the foreign ministers who have engaged. The OAS will be ready to assist in this process in whatever way both countries request or us.”