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 MISSION
STATEMENT:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to formulate,
coordinate and implement foreign policy initiatives, addressing
the issue areas of Economy, Human and National Security, National
Sovereignty and the preservation of Territorial Integrity. It is
in this endeavor that the ministry enhances the quality of life
of Belizeans through the proactive and effective promotion, protection
and coordination of Belize’s interests in the bilateral, regional
and multilateral diplomatic spheres.
POLICY
FRAMEWORK:
The preservation and consolidation of national sovereignty and territorial
integrity constitute the main frame of Belize’s foreign policy.
The
Government Manifesto “Keep Belize Free”, sets out to
make the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “an instrument to attract
investment, stimulate production and trade and assist in the strategy
to provide jobs and a dignified life for all Belizeans”. The
thrust of Belize’s foreign policy emphasizes priorities of
the national development agenda and to achieve this, the Ministry
concentrates its activities and expertise on issue areas as diverse
as International Law, Foreign Trade, Marketing and Investment Counseling,
the Promotion of Tourism, Environment and Sustainable Development.
 BELIZEAN
DIPLOMACY:
A major area of diplomatic work has to do with Belize’s ongoing
efforts to resolve the issue of Guatemala’s unfounded claim
to Belizean territory. Latterly, this has increasingly engaged the
involvement of the Secretariat of the Organization of American States
along with redoubled initiatives to sustain the interest and support
of the international community.
The
thrust of our diplomacy in the current administration must also
be driven by the priorities of the domestic agenda i.e.: fulfilling
the need for adequate housing; creation of greater opportunities
for employment; taking advantage of Belize’s competitive advantage
as a tourist destination; attracting private investment; gaining
fair terms of trade for Belize’s commodities; diversification
of the agricultural sector; expansion of communications and transport
infrastructure, food security; and enhanced delivery of social services.
To
enable the Foreign Ministry to meet the challenges of the new thrust
in our diplomacy, it is being strengthened with professionals who
possess expertise in legal affairs, trade, investment counseling
and promotion of tourism and economic development.
The basic principles which inform and guide the practice of Belizean
diplomacy are those enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
and in particular those which relate to:
• The maintenance of international peace and security
• Upholding the rule of Law
• The development of friendly relations among states based
on respect for the principle of sovereign equality, equal rights
and the right to self determination
• Achieving international cooperation in solving international
problems
• Promoting and encouraging respect for Human Rights
• The peaceful settlement of disputes and the non resort to
the use of force or threat of use of force against the territorial
integrity and political independence of any state
• Non-intervention in the internal affairs of a state.
Presentation
about the MFA
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