General Assembly Session 56 meeting 84

The Acting President

I call on the representative of Mexico to introduce draft resolution A/56/L.42.

Mr. Macedo (Mexico)

I have the honour to introduce to the Assembly the draft resolution contained in document A/56/L.42/Rev.1, entitled "United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala". In addition to Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, the United States of America and Venezuela -- the countries whose names appear on the original document -- the following delegations have decided to offer their valuable sponsorship of the draft resolution: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

On 29 December 1996, 36 years of internal conflict in Guatemala were brought to an end with the signing of the Agreement on a Firm and Lasting Peace. That Agreement was the result of a six-year negotiation process under the auspices of the United Nations, and it set in motion a series of political, military, legislative, social, economic, agrarian, ethnic and cultural measures, all of which are part of a broad national agenda for peace.

Since then, in accordance with a decision taken by the parties, the United Nations has played an important role in the verification of compliance with the commitments undertaken by the parties. That, in essence, is the function of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).

The presence of MINUGUA in Guatemala has been very positive. The parties, and Guatemalan society, have recognized that the United Nations, through its Mission, has contributed certainty and reliability to the process of implementing the peace accords. In Guatemala there is a solid consensus about the need for MINUGUA to remain in the country until 2003.

As can be seen, the draft resolution refers to earlier decisions by the General Assembly, to reports of the Secretary-General and of the Mission, to progress made and challenges involved in the peace process, and to the importance that the international community attaches to compliance with the outstanding commitments, within the framework of the new time frame agreed to, which continues to the end of 2004.

The draft resolution also notes that the parties have asked the United Nations to support the peace-building process until 2003. One of the key instruments for the promotion of peace, respect for human rights and verification of fulfilment of outstanding commitments is precisely the work that is being done by the United Nations Mission in Guatemala. The draft resolution would renew the Mission's mandate for 2002 and request the Secretary-General to submit, as soon as possible during the fifty-seventh session, an updated report with recommendations concerning the continuation of the peace-building phase after 31 December 2002.

I would like to bring to the attention of the Assembly the fact that, following yesterday's consultations, the original sponsors have agreed on a change to the text. The first part of paragraph 13 should now read as follows:

"Encourages the Government to implement the recommendations contained in the reports of the Mission on human rights, in particular those related to the systematic impunity for crimes and human rights violations ..."

In short, the words "in view of", which appeared in the original text, are replaced by "those related to". That revision would not change the substance of the original text but would introduce a nuance that, we hope, will allow the draft resolution to gain general acceptance.

Guatemala is a United Nations success story. The parties have shown that they are unequivocally committed to the peace process. Important progress has been made, although challenges remain to be overcome. The sponsors hope that the international community and international organizations will continue to contribute generously by providing financial and technical resources. We are convinced that the Guatemalan peace process is a worthwhile investment.

For these reasons, the sponsors trust that the General Assembly will renew its political support for Guatemala and, at the proper time, unanimously adopt the draft resolution that my delegation has the honour to introduce.

The Acting President

I give the floor to the representative of Costa Rica to introduce draft resolution A/56/L.45/Rev.1.

Mr. Niehaus (Costa Rica)

I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/56/L.45/Rev.1, under agenda item 44, entitled "The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development".

I am pleased to announce that, in addition to the original sponsors -- Austria, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Nicaragua, Panama, Sweden and my own country, Costa Rica -- the following countries have decided to sponsor the draft resolution: Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Suriname and the United Kingdom.

The draft resolution attempts to reflect the important progress achieved in Central America in the quest for peace, democracy and sustainable development, as well as to identify the path that is yet to be followed. In the 1980s, war, destruction, poverty, social injustice and hunger prevailed in our fraternal Central American republics. Today, peace reigns in Central America. At present, all of the nations of the isthmus are deeply committed to freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the preservation of the environment. Today, despite economic difficulties and tragic natural disasters, the region is steadfastly moving forward towards greater economic, political and social development.

It should be pointed out that the progress achieved is the direct result of a change of attitude on the part of the leaders and the peoples of the region. The people of Central America have consciously and resolutely renounced violence. At the same time, we are embracing dialogue, democracy and consensus as fundamental pillars of both human and international relations. The peoples of Central America have rejected the culture of war and embraced the culture of peace. The Central American plan for peace, democracy and development is designed to tackle directly the deep-rooted causes of internal conflict.

We should note with particular satisfaction the achievements with regard to human rights and democracy. It cannot be said today that in Central America massive human rights violations are taking place or that the democratic will of the peoples is being disregarded.

The preambular part of the draft resolution recognizes the efforts and achievements of the peoples and the Governments of Central America in the search for sustainable peace, the building of true democracy based on justice and reconciliation and the promotion of economic and social development. The draft resolution reiterates the crucial role played by international cooperation in reaching those objectives.

The draft resolution highlights the valuable role of the various Central American cooperation mechanisms and bodies that as a whole promote brotherly relations between the countries of Central America and the rest of the international community.

The draft resolution also stresses the progress achieved in the peace process in Guatemala and the implementation of the Peace Agreements under the auspices of the United Nations Verification Mission. Similarly, it acknowledges the successful process of democratization in El Salvador and the holding of democratic elections in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Nevertheless, the draft resolution recognizes that the building of peace and democracy in Central America is a dynamic and ongoing process that is still subject to serious structural obstacles. In that regard, the draft resolution stresses the urgent need to eradicate extreme poverty, promote economic and social justice, guarantee respect for fundamental human rights and protect the most vulnerable groups and minorities. The draft resolution recognizes that these aspects are potentially destabilizing elements for the region. It also acknowledges with great satisfaction the constructive roles played by United Nations missions in the region, and takes note of the convening last September of the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

Furthermore, the draft resolution notes with great concern the serious and harmful effects of an unfavourable economic environment on the economies of the region, as well as its negative impact on the efforts of Central American peoples to achieve sustainable development. In that context, the draft resolution notes that it has not yet been possible to overcome the devastating effects of hurricanes Mitch and Keith, or the earthquakes and droughts that have devastated the region. The draft resolution therefore expresses gratitude for international cooperation and solidarity in connection with these national catastrophes, and takes into account the efforts of Central American peoples and Governments to mitigate the effects of the crises and to reduce vulnerability.

In its operative part, the draft resolution praises Central American efforts to achieve peace and democracy and to promote sustainable development. It also reaffirms the need to continue to improve electoral processes and acknowledges the need to support national and regional efforts to overcome the deep-rooted causes of the crises and armed conflicts that have afflicted the region. It welcomes the results of the meeting of the regional Consultative Group for the Transformation and Modernization of Central America, and reaffirms the importance of the Puebla-Panama Plan for economic development in Mesoamerica and the Declaration of Guatemala II to reduce vulnerability.

Paragraph 8 expresses gratitude for the response of the international community to the national disasters that have afflicted the region, and requests additional assistance to continue to rebuild El Salvador.

Furthermore, the draft resolution welcomes the progress achieved in implementing the Guatemala Peace Agreements, and asks all United Nations programmes and bodies to continue to cooperate in the implementation and verification of the Agreements. It also acknowledges the importance of the Central American Integration System and highlights regional integration efforts.

The draft resolution calls on Central American Governments to comply fully with their international commitments in promoting and protecting human rights, eradicating poverty, modernizing public administration, eliminating corruption and other areas.

The draft resolution takes note of the willingness of the countries of the region to resolve their disputes through peaceful means, and calls on the Secretary-General to offer the greatest possible support to national initiatives to build peace and democracy. The draft resolution concludes by requesting the Secretary-General to submit a new report on this item next year, and by deciding to include the item on the agenda of the fifty-seventh session.

Building stable and lasting peace in Central America requires continuous efforts. Until each and every one of the republics of Central America has reached a satisfactory level of sustainable human development, the situation in the region will remain precarious. As long as some countries in the region have not reached a satisfactory and sustainable level of economic and social development, it will be impossible to consider that peace has been achieved.

Achievements in the area of democracy and human rights must be upheld, broadened and consolidated. We must take effective measures to end the scandalous gap between the richest and the poorest. We must guarantee that the basic needs of the poorest and the weakest are fully met. It is crucial to reduce the vulnerability of our countries to natural catastrophes, and to adopt effective measures for reconstruction and normalization after such catastrophes. We must make greater efforts to guarantee civil safety for our citizens and to avoid the internationalization of criminal activity. The support of the international community, and of the United Nations in particular, is essential for carrying out these tasks.

In that context, the draft resolution that I have just introduced constitutes necessary political support for the region. I would therefore like to recommend that it be adopted by consensus.

Mr. De Loecker (Belgium)

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