Britain and Guatemala Restore Diplomatic Ties
Guatemala and Britain on Wednesday re-established diplomatic relations, broken in 1963 in a territorial dispute over the neighboring country of Belize.
Presidential spokesman Julio Santos announced the restoration under a plan put forth by President Vinicio Cerezo, who took office Jan. 14 as the first civilian head of state in 16 years.
In 1963, Guatemala’s head of state, Col. Enrique Peralta Azudia, broke off relations between the two countries after negotiations over Guatemala’s claim to Belize broke down.
Guatemala severed consular relations shortly before Britain granted independence to Belize on Sept. 21, 1981.
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