European Union Delegation Visits Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone

A delegation took a trip to the Adjacency Zone on Friday, between Belize and Guatemala.  The visit’s objective was to witness the activities financed by the European Union and for the union to announce additional financial support that it will be providing.  The European Union has provided financial support towards the implementation of the special international mandate of the OAS in the area since 2012 and recently signed a new agreement with the OAS in the amount of 1, 5 Million Euro for a period of eighteen months. The new EU funded project seeks to support the political-diplomatic process and the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone in implementing conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy activities. In addition to the ongoing EU support, European Union Member States, including Italy and Spain are also providing financial support to the OAS operations in the Adjacency Zone between Belize and Guatemala.  During the visit, the delegation met with Ambassador Agustín Espinosa, Special Representative of the OAS Secretary General for Belize and Guatemala Affairs and Dr. Juan Carlos Amador Hernández, Director of the OAS Adjacency Zone Office, toured the office facilities and visited the “Ta’Amay” Centres for Training and Promotion of Peace Headquarters at Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala.  The delegation comprised of the European Union Ambassador to Belize Marianne Van Steen, European Union Ambassador to Guatemala Thomas Peyker, six Ambassadors of European Union Member States, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Spain, and other representatives of EU diplomatic missions.