Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA159
2003-01-21 21:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

LETTER FROM FOREIGN MINISTER GUTIERREZ TO

Tags:  PREL PGOV PBTS GT BZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000159 

SIPDIS

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE SECRETARY FROM FOREIGN MINISTER
GUTIERREZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS GT BZ
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM FOREIGN MINISTER GUTIERREZ TO
SECRETARY POWELL


SIPDIS

REF: STATE 3578

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000159

SIPDIS

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE SECRETARY FROM FOREIGN MINISTER
GUTIERREZ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS GT BZ
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM FOREIGN MINISTER GUTIERREZ TO
SECRETARY POWELL


SIPDIS

REF: STATE 3578


1. Foreign Minister Edgar Gutierrez gave us on January 21 a
letter to Secretary Powell (dated January 17) in which he
thanks the Secretary for his letter (reftel) congratulating
Gutierrez on his nomination as Foreign Minister. In his
letter, Gutierrez expresses his desire to work together with
the USG to address shared concerns, and restates the
Guatemalan Government's interest in resolving its border
differences with Belize. An Embassy translation of the text
follows in paragraph two; the original is being sent by pouch
to WHA/CEN.


2. Begin text:
Guatemala, January 17, 2003

Most Excellent Mr. Secretary:

It is an honor for me to thank you for your letter of
congratulation and the remarks you made in it about my
experience. I am committed to my country by the confidence
given me by President Alfonso Portillo in naming me Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala.

I fully agree with your comment that our countries share
common goals like those listed by you in your letter. In
that regard, I want to express to you my determination to
address these issues, which, in some cases, I believe are
goals where we have shared responsibility.

I view my responsibility at the head of this Ministry as a
challenge to find means to confront these shared concerns
that you mention. The goals we share in the furtherance of
our bilateral relations will constitute an important priority
for me.

In regard to the territorial differences between Guatemala
and Belize, I want to reiterate to you emphatically that, as
is outlined in the Third Report of the President to the
Congress of the Republic, this issue represents "a
fundamental theme that the Government has sought to resolve
through peaceful means, through legal action and in accord
with the stipulations of international law. The policy of
the Government has been to actively seek a resolution to the
border differences that is peaceful, honorable, equitable and
permanent."

In the same manner, I would like to express my desire that
the cooperation between our nations be strengthened and
continue in every field, for the purpose of building a more
worthy, secure and just world, which is the legitimate
aspiration of our citizens and all humanity.

Thank you again, and I hope in the near future to be able to
speak personally with you. I take advantage of this
opportunity to express to you my highest esteem and most
distinguished consideration.

Edgar Gutierrez
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(end text)




Hamilton