Page "Foreign relations of Guatemala" Paragraph 4

Guatemala has a longstanding claim to a large portion of Belize ; the territorial dispute caused problems with the United Kingdom and later with Belize following its 1981 independence from the UK.

In December 1989, Guatemala sponsored Belize for permanent observer status in the Organization of American States ( OAS ).

In September 1991, Guatemala recognized Belize's independence and established diplomatic ties, while acknowledging that the boundaries remained in dispute.

In anticipation of an effort to bring the border dispute to an end in early 1996, the Guatemalan Congress ratified two long-pending international agreements governing frontier issues and maritime rights.