A-55299
No. 55299. Guatemala and Belize
SPECIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN
GUATEMALA AND BELIZE TO SUBMIT
GUATEMALA'S TERRITORIAL,
INSULAR AND MARITIME CLAIM TO
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF
ruSTICE. WASHINGTON, 8 DECEMBER
2008
PROTOCOL TO THE SPECIAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE TO
SUBMIT GUATEMALA'S TERRITORIAL,
INSULAR AND MARITIME CLAIM TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.
GUATEMALA,25 MAY2015*
Entry into force: 27 April 2017 by the
exchange of the instruments of ratification, in
accordance with article 4
Authentic texts: English and Spanish
Registration with the Secretariat of the
United Nations: Guatemala, 29 August 2018
*No UNTS volume number has yet been determinedfor this
record The Text(s) reproduced below, if attached, are
the authentic texts of the agreement !action
attachment as submitted for registration and
publication to the Secretariat. For ease of reference
they were sequentially paginated Translations, if
attached, are not final and are provided for
information on/y.
N° 55299. Guatemala et Belize
ACCORD SPÉCIAL ENTRE LE
GUATEMALA ET LE BELIZE VISANT À
SOUMETTRE LE DIFFÉREND
TERRITORIAL, INSULAIRE ET
MARITIME DU GUATEMALA À LA
COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE.
WASHINGTON, 8 DÉCEMBRE 2008
PROTOCOLE À L'ACCORD SPÉCIAL ENTRE LE
GUATEMALA ET LE BELIZE VISANT À
SOUMETTRE LE DIFFÉREND TERRITORIAL,
INSULAIRE ET MARITIME DU GUATEMALA À
LA COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE.
GUATEMALA, 25 MAI 2015*
Entrée en vigueur: 27 avril 2017 par
l'échange des instruments de ratification,
conformément à l'article 4
Textes authentiques : anglais et espagnol
Enregistrement auprès du Secrétariat de
l'Organisation des Nations Unies:
Guatemala, 29 août 2018
*Aucun numéro de volume n'a encore été attribué à ce
dossier. Les textes disponibles qui sont reproduits cidessous
sont les textes originaux de l'accord ou de
l'action tels que soumis pour enregistrement. Par
souci de clarté, leurs pages ont été numérotées. Les
traductions qui accompagnent ces textes ne sont pas
définitives et sont fournies uniquement à titre
d'iriformation.
A-55299
[ ENGLISH TEXT- TEXTE ANGLAIS ]
PROTOCOL
TO THE SPECIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA
TO SUBMIT GUATEMALA 'S TERRITORIAL, INSULAR AND MARITIME
CLAIM TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Belize and the Republic of Guatemala, hereinafier "the Parties";
CONVINCED that International Law provides the basis for peaceful coexistence and for
the pacifie settlement of disputes between States;
NOTING that the Parties reached the conclusion in 2007 that ali pacifie means for the
seUlement of disputes between Belize and Guatemala have been exhausted, except by the
juridical means;
RECALLING that Belize and Guatemala accepted the recommendation by the OAS
Secretary General to submit Guatemala· s territorial, insular and maritime claim to the
International Court of Justice for a definitive seulement, which was confirmed by
Guatemala in writing on 17 December 2007 and reaffirmed on 16 June 2008; and
confirmed in writing by Belize on 29 May 2008;
CONSIDERJNG that .. The Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala to submit
Guatemala's territorial. insular and maritime claim to the International Court of Justice;'
signed on 8 December 2008 under the auspices of the OAS (henceforth referred to as the
'·Special Agreement"). defines the mechanism to put an end to such claims;
REITERA TING that the objective and purpose of the Special Agreement is to definitive( y
put an end to any and ali differences bctween the Parties in respect of Guatemala's
territorial, insular and maritime daim in the International Court of Justice:
NOTING that the simultaneous retèrendum between the two countries programmed for 6
October 2013 did not take place;
CONSIDERING that the Parties remain committed to the creation of a climate of
confidence between their two peoples;
REAFFIRMING the commitment to submit the dispute to the International Court of
Justice for a final and definitive resolution in accordance with the Special Agreement;
REITERA TING the commitment of the Parties to promote good neighbourliness and
bilateral cooperation in ali areas and levels of mutual interest, and the need to implement
the thirteen Agreements signed on 17 December 2014 in Placencia, Belize. as weil as the
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A-55299
undertakings made at the meeting of the Belize-Guatemala Joint Commission of 1 0 October
2014 held in Guatemala City;
CONVINCED that ali efforts must be made now to resolve the differences that still subsist
so that they are not passed on to future generations;
WHEREAS BY MUTUAL CONSENT, THE PARTIES NOW AGREE AS
FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE l
To ensure, through active public information efforts that their respective citizens are tully
informed of the differences between the two Parties in respect of Guatemala's territorial,
insular and maritime daim and of the need to resolve them finally and definitively in the
International Court of Justice.
ARTICLE2
To take ail suitable actions and measures within their respective internai normative
requirements to submit Guatemala' s territorial insular and maritime daim to the
International Court of Justice for the latter to hear the case, and decide and resolve it in a
definitive manner.
ARTICLE3
1. To amend Article 7.2 of the Special Agreement, which shall now read: •·The referendum
will be held simultaneously or separately on the dates most convenient to the Parties".
2. To amend Article 8 of the Special Agreement, which shall now read: •·The Registrar of
the Court shall be notitied of this Special Agreement jointly or by either of the Parties
within a month after the referendum in each country has approved, pursuant to Article 7 .2,
submission ofthe dispute to the International Court of Justice".
For the purpose ofimplementing Article 3 sub paragraph 2.a of the Special Agreement, it is
understood that the timeframe for the presentation of the Memorial shall begin to run from
the date when both Parties have notified the Registrar of the International Court of Justice
of their approval based on the results of the referendum to submit the dispute to its
jurisdiction.
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ARTICLE4
This Protocol will enter into force upon the exchange of instruments of ratification and
remain in force unless and until terminated by agreement of the Parties.
Signed in Guatemala on the 25th day of May. 2015. in triplicate in English and Spanish.
being ali texts equally authentic.
FOR BELIZE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA
ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFF AIRS
SECRET ARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
(WITNESS OF HONOUR)
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Protocol to the Special Agreement