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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
Ambassador: Nestor MENDEZ
Embassy: 2535 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: 202-332-9636
FAX: 202-332-6888

The U.S. Embassy is located in the City of Belmopan on Floral Park Street. The mailing address is P.O. Box 497, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, Central America: tel: 011-501- 822-4011 from the United States or 822-4011 locally; fax: 011-501-822-4012 Main number; 822-4053 Administrative Office; 822-4050 Consular Section.

Consulates General are in:
Los Angeles
5825 W. Sunset Bl., Suite 203,
Hollywood, CA 90028

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Vinai Thummalapally
Deputy Chief of Mission--J.A. Diffily
Economic/Political Officer--Brianne Watts
Political Officer--Jennifer Barr
Public Affairs Officer--Kelly McCarthy
Consul--Arlene Grace Genuino
Management Officer--Philip Wilson
Military Liaison Officer--LTC Chris Eldridge

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Belize
US Embassy in Belize City Belize
Embassy of Belize Web Site in Washington DC
Belize Guide


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Belize's principal external concern has been the dispute involving the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. This dispute originated in Imperial Spain's claim to all "New World" territories west of the line established in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. Nineteenth-century efforts to resolve the problems led to later differences over interpretation and implementation of an 1859 treaty intended to establish the boundaries between Guatemala and Belize, then named British Honduras. Guatemala contends that the 1859 treaty is void because the British failed to comply with all its economic assistance clauses. Neither Spain nor Guatemala ever exercised effective sovereignty over the area.

Negotiations have been underway for many years, including one period in the 1960s in which the U.S. Government sought unsuccessfully to mediate. A 1981 trilateral (Belize, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom) "Heads of Agreement" was not implemented due to continued contentions. Belize became independent on September 21, 1981, with the territorial dispute unresolved. Significant negotiations between Belize and Guatemala, with the United Kingdom as an observer, resumed in 1988. Guatemala recognized Belize's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations were established.

Eventually, on November 8, 2000, the two parties agreed to respect an "adjacency zone" extending one kilometer east and west from the border. Around this time, the Government of Guatemala insisted that the territorial claim was a legal one and that the only possibility for a resolution was to submit the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the Government of Belize felt that taking the case to the ICJ or to arbitration represented an unnecessary expenditure of time and money. So the Belizean Government proposed an alternate process, one under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Since then, despite efforts by the OAS to jumpstart the process, movement has been limited to confidence-building measures between the parties. In November 2007, the Secretary General of the OAS recommended that the dispute be referred to the ICJ. Currently Belize and Guatemala are preparing for a referendum, to be held simultaneously in both countries, on whether this dispute will move forward to the ICJ. No date for the referendum has been set.

In order to strengthen its potential for economic and political development, Belize has sought to build closer ties with the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America to complement its historical ties to the English-speaking Caribbean states. In 2005 Belize joined other Central American countries participating in the Cooperating Nations Information Exchange System (CNIES), which assists in locating, identifying, tracking, and intercepting civil aircraft in Belize's airspace. Belize and other Central American countries signed the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA (CONCAUSA) agreement on regional sustainable development. Belize held the presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA) for a 6-month period in 2010. Belize is a member of CARICOM, which was founded in 1973, and held the chairmanship of CARICOM for a 6-month period in 2008. Belize became an OAS member in 1990.

U.S.-BELIZEAN RELATIONS
The United States and Belize traditionally have had close and cordial relations. The United States is Belize's principal trading partner and major source of investment funds. It is also home to the largest Belizean community outside Belize, estimated to be 70,000 strong. Belize's economic growth and accompanying democratic political stability are important U.S. objectives.

International crime issues dominate the agenda of bilateral relations between the United States and Belize. The United States is working closely with the Government of Belize to fight illicit narcotics trafficking, and Belize benefits from the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). Through CARSI, the U.S. Government seeks to strengthen citizen safety and improve the government’s capacity to confront and disrupt criminal organizations. Both governments also seek to control the flow of illegal migrants to the United States through Belize. Belize and the United States brought into force a Stolen Vehicle Treaty, an Extradition Treaty, and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between 2001 and 2003.

The United States is one of the largest providers of economic assistance to Belize, contributing $3.5 million in various bilateral economic and military aid programs to Belize in FY 2008. The U.S. military has a diverse and growing assistance program in Belize that has included the construction and renovation of several schools and youth hostels, medical assistance programs, and drug reduction programs. The U.S. Military Liaison Office (MLO), in conjunction with the Belize Defense Force, also worked to establish the Belize National Coast Guard. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) closed its Belize office in August 1996 after a 13-year program during which USAID provided $110 million worth of development assistance to Belize. Belize still benefits from USAID regional programs. In addition, during the past 42 years, almost 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Belize. As of October 2010, the Peace Corps had 75 volunteers working in Belize.

NATIONAL SECURITY
In June 2010, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced changes to his cabinet. The Ministry of National Security was split into the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Police and Public Security. This included the addition of two new members of cabinet and the division of one ministry. The Belize Defense Force (BDF), established in January 1973, is comprised of a light infantry force of regulars and reservists along with small air and maritime wings. The BDF, currently under the command of Brigadier General Dario Tapia, assumed total defense responsibility from British Forces Belize (BFB) on January 1, 1994. In late 2010, the British Ministry of Defense announced plans to close down its base in Belize as part of cost-saving measures and reduced its troops from 70 soldiers to a skeleton staff of fewer than 10 soldiers. The BDF receives military assistance from the United States.

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Vinai Thummalapally
Deputy Chief of Mission--J.A. Diffily
Economic/Political Officer--Brianne Watts
Political Officer--Kelly McCarthy
Consul--Thomas Wallis
Management Officer--Sharon Featherstone
Military Liaison Officer--LTC Chris Eldridge

The U.S. Embassy is located in the City of Belmopan on Floral Park Street. The mailing address is P.O. Box 497, Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, Central America: tel: 011-501- 822-4011 from the United States or 822-4011 locally; fax: 011-501-822-4012 Main number; 822-4053 Administrative Office; 822-4050 Consular Section. E-mail address: embbelize@state.gov, Web site address: http://belize.usembassy.gov/.


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Belize check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (BZD) Belizean Dollar
Electrical 110/220 Volts
Telephones Country Code 501, City Code Belize District 2+6D, Corozal District 4+6D, Toledo District 7+6D



Time: GMT - 6.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 501. Outgoing international code: 00.

Climate: Subtropical with a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. High annual temperatures and humidity. Dry and hot climate from January to April, with rainy season from June to September.

Food & Drink: There is a selection of restaurants which serve international, Chinese, Latin American and Creole food. Service and quality vary but the food is generally cheap. Bars are plentiful and local drinks include coconut rum mixed with pineapple juice. The local Belikin beer is worth sampling.

Tipping: Few places add service charges, and ten per cent is normal. Taxi drivers are not tipped.

Currency: Belize Dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Bz$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Bz$1, and 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange: Currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and travel agencies. Some businesses will even accept dollars. ATMs in Belize generally do not accept foreign cards.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Visa and MasterCard (limited) are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Most establishments will add a five per cent service charge to the bills of customers using credit cards.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco...................200 Cigarettes or 225g of Tobacco product

Liquor......................568mL of Alcoholic beverages

Perfume...................1 Bottle of Perfume for personal use

Cameras...................No Restrictions

Currency...................No Restrictions

Gifts..........................No Allowance

Agricultural Items.....Refer to Consulate



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