16 March 2000
Honduras, Nicaragua Sign Pact to Avoid War Over Maritime Dispute
(Pact said to "practically eliminate" chance of armed conflict) (540) By Eric Green Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Following their fourth round of talks concerning a maritime dispute, Honduras and Nicaragua have signed a memorandum of understanding that Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Cesar Gaviria believes will "practically eliminate the possibility of any type of military confrontation between the two countries." In a statement released after the pact was signed at OAS headquarters in Washington March 7, Gaviria praised the two countries for their willingness to agree on measures to maintain peace. Gaviria's special representative to the talks, Luigi Einaudi, said the agreement goes well beyond good intentions and includes practical measures, such as combined patrol mechanisms and freezing of military levels. The talks began in December after tensions arose over the two countries' maritime boundary dispute in the Caribbean Sea. The two sides agreed in the pact that the boundary issue will be decided by the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The talks concerned how to maintain peaceful relations while the parties wait for a decision from the Court. Einaudi, a retired U.S. diplomat, said the latest talks gave force to the guidelines agreed to earlier by Honduras and Nicaragua to maintain peace. "Despite undeniable differences, both countries have shown respect for the points of view of the other and a willingness to seek peaceful solutions," he said. The March 7 memorandum is the third agreement signed by the foreign ministers of Honduras and Nicaragua over the last several months, and the first that established detailed mechanisms for reducing tensions. The last joint meeting was held February 6-7 in San Salvador, at the headquarters of the Central American Integration System. Previous talks were held in Miami and Washington. Nicaragua's Ambassador to the OAS, Alvaro Sevilla, said the agreements contribute to true peace in the region and represent "another step in the reduction of tensions and another measure of confidence between both countries." Honduras' envoy to the OAS, Laura Nunez, called on all Central American countries to do their part "to secure peace for the region and to consolidate the progress that has been made toward political and economic integration." The March 7 agreement was signed for Nicaragua by Foreign Minister Eduardo Montealegre Rivas, and for Honduras by Foreign Minister Roberto Flores Bermudez. Tensions arose between the countries late last year as the result of the ratification by the Honduran Congress of a maritime delimitation treaty between Honduras and Colombia. Nicaragua claims some of the maritime areas in question. The Memorandum of Understanding between Honduras and Nicaragua has been posted on the OAS web site at www.oas.org/. Meanwhile, on another matter, a technical meeting between Guatemala and Belize was held at the OAS March 14 concerning a territorial dispute between the two countries. A statement by the OAS said the two parties agreed at the meeting to pursue ways to develop and implement confidence-building measures, and to improve existing arrangements to avoid violence. The OAS' Gaviria served as mediator for the March 14 meeting. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.gov)
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