Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELMOPAN664
2007-11-13 14:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

(U) BELIZE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FOR BETTER RESPONSE

Tags:  CJAN ASEC KTIA BH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0664 3171410
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131410Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0915
INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000664 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: CJAN ASEC KTIA BH
SUBJECT: (U) BELIZE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FOR BETTER RESPONSE
ON STOLEN CARS

Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Dieter for reason 1.4(b) (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000664

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: CJAN ASEC KTIA BH
SUBJECT: (U) BELIZE: AMBASSADOR PRESSES FOR BETTER RESPONSE
ON STOLEN CARS

Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Dieter for reason 1.4(b) (d)


1. (U) Ambassador and DCM met with Foreign Minister Lisa
Shoman to express concern about the lack of response to our
requests, under the bilateral Stolen Car Treaty, for the
return of vehicles stolen from the U.S. We currently have
multiple requests pending regarding three vehicles. Although
the terms of the treaty call for a reply within 30 days,
diplomatic notes from as far back as February remain
unanswered.


2. (U) Minister Shoman apologized for the lack of response
and promised action on the requests by the end of November.
MFA staff blamed the police for the problems, saying that
they had verbally provided clearance for the return of the
vehicles but had not yet given approval in writing.


3. (C) COMMENT: The treaty has not functioned well since
late in 2006 when the GOB requested a change in notification
procedures and asked that each request come by diplomatic
note rather than the previous system of a memo from the RSO.
Since early 2007 we have had five notes about stolen cars go
unanswered, with a verbal explanation that required paperwork
was not being completed by the police or Customs. We have
heard informally that one of the cars we had requested be
returned was actually being driven by a senior GOB official,
which may explain why the paperwork was slow in coming from
his department. END COMMENT.
DIETER