Oliver del Cid, Texas State Alum and former Belizean Ambassador to Mexico, spoke to Dr. Franziska Newell’s International Law class about the territorial negotiations between Guatemala and Belize. Del Cid, who was involved in the negotiations, began by giving an in-depth history of the dispute, which began in colonial times and reached a head in the mid-2000s. He then went on to describe the case as it stood before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), explaining each parties’ position and relating them to precedents in international border arbitration.
One student mentioned that they “really appreciated the insight into an actual, ongoing court case,” while another commented that it was very helpful to “hear from someone directly involved in the negotiations.”
Oliver del Cid, who graduated from Texas State in 1995 with a BA in Political Science, has received the University’s 2015 Distinguished Alumnus award and the School of Liberal Arts’ 2019 Distinguished Alumnus award for his notable career in Belizean diplomacy and ongoing involvement with the University.
