Office of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States

Adjacency Zone, Belize - Guatemala

   

Promoting Culture of PeaceClosing – 16th of October, 2009

Promoting Culture of PeaceClosing – 16th of October, 2009

 

   n Friday, 16th of October, the closing of the Program “Promoting Culture of Peace” was held 

at the space  located between the  Immigration Offices of Belize and Guatemala, situated at 

the Municipalities of Benque Viejo del Carmen and Melchor de Mencos  respectively – with 

the support of the Federal Republic of Germany – carried out by the Mission of the Office of the General 

Secretariat of the OAS in the Adjacency Zone, Belize‐Guatemala. 

  

  

 More  than  300  students  enrolled,  Guatemalans 

as  well  as  Belizeans  who  reside  in  the 

municipalities  of  the  Adjacency  Zone,  and 

attended  workshops  for  six  months  in  artistic 

painting, theatre, music, singing, guitar and wind 

instruments.  Inter‐institutional  coordination  was 

carried  out with  the  support  of  the Melchor  de 

Mencos and Benque Viejo Mayoral Offices, Town Boards and Houses 

of  Culture.    For  the  closing  program  we  were  honoured  with  the 

presence  of  the  OAS  Secretary  General´s  Representative  for  Belize‐

Guatemala  Affairs,  His  Excellency  Mr.  Raul  Lago  as  well  as  the 

Ambassador  of  the  Federal  Republic  of  Germany, His  Excellency Dr. 

Peter  Linder, municipal  authorities, military  authorities, members  of 

the Diplomatic Corp and International Organizations. 

 

The  cultural  event  started  at  10:00  am  and  ended  at  21:00  hrs with 

unceasing  parading  of  Belizean  and  Guatemalan  children  that 

performed various artistic presentations. 

 

The Mission of the OAS in the Adjacency Zone in close coordination with the governments of Belize and 

Guatemala  and  the  support of  the  international  community  complies  in  this manner with  the  spirit of 

building Peace which  is stated  in the mandate of the Confidence Building Measures that was signed by 

both countries in 2003 and 2005.  

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Photographs of the event 

Invited guests

Vinai Thummalapally (USA), Kim Osborne (OAS-Belize), Jackie Brown (British High Commission), Pedro Etchebarne (Brazil)

Mayor of Benque Viejo Belize, Nicholas Ruiz

Mayor of Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala, Ricardo Ávila

H. E. Mr. Raul Lago,

OAS Secretary General Representative

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany,

H. E. Mr. Peter Linder

 

OAS/AZ Director, Mr. Miguel Angel Trinidad

Donation of musical instruments to

Melchor de Mencos House of Culture, Guatemala

 

Donation of musical instruments to Benque Viejo

House of Culture, Benque Viejo, Belize.

H. E. Mr. Peter Linder with students from the art course

General Tapia (Belize), Colonel Gramajo (Guatemala)

Presentation by students of theatre course

 

Drama presentation “Cuento de Cuentos”.

 

 

Presentation by students of theatre course

Presentation by students from the Guitar course

Students of music presenting the song “Culture of Peace”

Presentation by students from the flute and guitar courses

Art - Painting exhibition

Art - Painting exhibition

   

 

Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to the Houses of

Culture of Benque Viejo, Belize and Guatemala

Presentation of Certificates to Program teachers

Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to schools

for their participation at the cultural event

Certificate of Recognition to Ambassador of the Federal

Republic of Germany

Participation of children at the cultural event

Local Dance presentation

Local Dances of Belize and Guatemala

Local Dance of Guatemala

 

 

 Local Dances

Local Dances

Local Dances

Local Dances

Local Dances

Local Dances

Audience at cultural event

Audience at cultural event

 

 

 

 THE REPORTER, 25th of OCTOBER, 2009, Belize   

 

   

 

 

Participants and special invited guests: H. E. Peter Linder - Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, H. E. Dr. Vinai Thummalapally - Embassy of the United States of America, H. E. Mr. Manuel Téllez - Embassy of Guatemala, H. E. Mr. Raul Lago - OAS Secretary General Representative for Belize-Guatemala Affairs, Mr. Miguel Angel Trinidad – Director of OAS Adjacency Zone Belize Guatemala, Ms. Jackie Brown – Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Alfonso Gahona – Director of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize, General Dario Tapia – Commander of the Belize Defence Force, Colonel Oscar Gramajo – Commander of First Brigade of Guatemala Army, General Jose H. Marroquín Zelada – Military Attache of Guatemala in Belize, Colonel Miguel Juchuña Cumez – First Brigade Guatemala Army, Minister Counsellor Mr. Pedro Etchebarne – Embassy of Brazil, Mr. Alexander Yañez – Embassy of Venezuela, Mr. Miguel Elena-Fuentes – Embassy of El Salvador, Mr. Nicholas Ruiz – Mayor of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, Hon. Rudel Mauricio Alvarez – Governor of Peten, Mr. Ricardo Ávila – Mayor of Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala, Mrs. Kim Osborne – OAS Belize Representative, Mr. Arsenio Burgos – Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Jose B. Mena – Consul of Chile, Mr. Jorge L. Hidalgo Castellanos – Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of Mexico Arch. Domingo Rodriguez – Cultural Attaché Embassy of Mexico, Mr. Phil Westman – Canadian Cooperation, Mr. Néstor Gonzalo Palacios - Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos of Guatemala; Inspector Claudio Mai – Police Department of Benque Viejodel Carmen, Mr. David Ruiz - CACHE, Oficial II Edgar Rolando Sandoval De Paz, Policía Nacional Civil of Melchor de Mencos, Mrs. Diane Haylock – National Institute of Culture and History of Belize, Mrs. Nalleli Trujillo – Benque Viejo House of Culture.

Participating Schools: Instituto Mixto Particular, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Barrio El Arroyito, Escuela Oficial de Párvulos Barrio El Centro, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Barrio Sta. Elena, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Barrio La Ceibita, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Barrio Suchitan JM, Instituto Básico Prof. Rodimiro Figueroa, Centro Educativo de Capacitación Profesional, Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta Bario Suchitan JV, Mopan Technical High School, Mount Carmel Primary School, San Jose Succotz Roman Catholic School, Mount Carmel High School, Mount Carmel Drama and Theatre Group.

Organization of American States  Secretary General: Dr. Jose Miguel Insulza Assistant Secretary General: H. E. Mr. Albert Ramdin Secretariat for Political Affairs: Secretary, H. E. Mr. Victor Rico Department of Democratic Sustainability and Special Missions: Dr. Raul Alconada OAS Secretary General Representative for Belize‐Guatemala Affairs: H. E. Mr. Raul Lago Chief – Fund for Peace: Ms. Magdalena Talamas Director of the Office of the OAS Adjacency Zone Belize –Guatemala: Mr. Miguel Angel Trinidad