Guatemala, 1994

Allow me to congratulate

you, Sir, on your election as President of the General

Assembly at its forty-ninth regular session and to offer

you the fullest cooperation of the Guatemalan delegation

in the important tasks before you. I also wish to express

deserved appreciation to Ambassador Samuel Insanally

for the manner in which he discharged his duties as

President during the last session. The Latin American

and Caribbean region is justifiably proud of his

performance.

I wish also to convey our appreciation to Secretary-

General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for his skilful

helmsmanship of the activities of the Organization. We

again offer him our support in his endeavours.

In the light of the great changes that have taken

place in recent years, we come to this Assembly full of

hope and expectation. In some regions of the world

events make it possible for us to look ahead with

optimism to a future of peaceful coexistence between

nations. At the same time, in other regions we look with

concern on the inflammation of new hotbeds of tension

that lead to a weakening of the power of the State as the

catalyst among various social sectors. This situation

seriously threatens the social fabric and the very norms

that make it possible for human beings to live together in

peace.

As far as Guatemala is concerned, international

relations must be grounded in profound respect for the

principles and norms of international law. Peaceful

coexistence can be achieved only by means of absolute

respect for the sovereignty, independence and legal

equality of States.

19

Multilateralism has been given new impetus in the

new international context and constitutes a more intense,

more comprehensive contribution to the search for solutions

to problems old and new. To the extent that we place our

faith in multilateral action and are able to define it properly

and efficiently, we will be able to move forward in

developing a stable international order that enables us to

foster peace and well-being for mankind. Within this

international landscape, which has also transformed the

concept of global security, we face the challenge of

understanding and coping with the new risks looming over

mankind.

Guatemala is at a moment of special importance in its

history. Still fresh are the historic and unprecedented

events in which the people of Guatemala organized and

mobilized and demonstrated its profound democratic

convictions, making it possible to restore constitutional

order, which had broken down, and carrying the former

human rights prosecutor to the presidency.

The background of our President Leon Carpio is well

known and constitutes the best guarantee of the

commitment and determination of the Government of

Guatemala to struggle for the full enjoyment of human

rights and the search for peace through dialogue and

negotiation. The Government has amply demonstrated its

political will through concrete actions aimed at resolving a

very broad and complex range of problems. It has done so

by pursuing an economic, social and cultural policy that

takes into account the multicultural nature of our country,

including proposals from civilian society, which naturally

include those emanating from the indigenous population of

Guatemala.

Our commitment to human rights has also been

unquestionably strengthened by the important progress

made in the peace negotiations with the Unidad

Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) with a

view to ending one of the lengthiest armed conflicts in

Latin America. Among the elements of progress made in

the negotiations, the Comprehensive Agreement on Human

Rights, with international validity and verification, is of

particular importance.

In the process of negotiations, the following

agreements have been signed this year: the Framework

Agreement for the Resumption of the Negotiating Process,

signed in Mexico on 10 January 1994, which provides for

all agreements to include national and international

verification mechanisms and that the United Nations be

responsible for the international ones; the Agreement on

a Timetable for the Negotiation of a Firm and Lasting

Peace; the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights

signed in Mexico on 29 March 1994; the Agreement

concerning the resettlement of displaced persons, signed

in Oslo on 17 July 1994; the Agreement on the

Commission of Inquiry, signed in Oslo on 23 June 1994.

All Guatemalans and the international community

are fully aware of the firm resolve of the Government to

negotiate responsibly and with determination to achieve

peace agreements within the agreed timetable. The

patience and flexibility of the Government of Guatemala

are well known and have made it possible to reach

agreement despite many difficulties. The representatives

of the countries in the Group of Friends - Mexico,

Colombia, Spain, Norway, the United States and

Venezuela - can testify to this.

The Framework Agreement and the Timetable

establish the parametres for negotiations, limiting both

parties to a certain format and time-frame. The

moderator convenes meetings in accordance with the

Timetable and the parties attend and negotiate in

conformity with the established procedures. These are the

agreed rules and no party can capriciously change them,

much less try to usurp the function of verifying

compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on

Human Rights. Full compliance with that Agreement is

to be verified by a machinery requested of the United

Nations by both parties. On this basis, the mandate of the

mission known as the United Nations Human Rights

Verification Mission in Guatemala was established by

General Assembly resolution. My country would like to

thank the international community, the Group of Friends

and the United Nations for their assistance in the quest

for peace.

It is clear that fundamental rights and freedoms,

political democracy and the right to development are

indivisible and interdependent. Those countries like ours

that have experienced the tragedy of armed conflict know

from experience that there are other, broader connotations

to the right to development and that it is not possible to

have development and social evolution without peace. At

the same time, the full enjoyment of human rights is not

possible without development or peace. The international

community has been firm and decisive in its political

support for democratic processes. We have to believe

that it will pursue this course in seeking to strengthen and

20

refine them. Regrettably, however, the processes involved

in national reconciliation have not been understood, and

support for the processes of development has been

insignificant; worse yet, development has been blocked,

thus impeding access to sources of finance and to

international markets.

If the development model and reconciliation are

allowed to fail, democracy will fail too and we shall never

achieve secure and lasting peace, because if the population

loses faith in the democratic system we shall inevitably

return to authoritarianism. The international community has

the responsibility to support economic and social

development and to foster the processes of reconciliation if

it would have all the nations of the world living under

democracy. International condemnation and pressure might

be effective in fostering democracy, but they are not

sufficient in and of themselves to establish it on a solid and

lasting footing.

The Government of Guatemala reiterates its policy of

wide-ranging cooperation with the United Nations system

in the field of human rights. It has also demonstrated to

the international community its readiness to negotiate peace

agreements within the scheduled timetable. It hopes that,

in the face of a refusal by the URNG to return to the

negotiating table or to disarm and demobilize itself after its

non-binding signature, that party’s sources of finance will

be closed off to prevent armed action that would be totally

unwarranted. The people of Guatemala has shown itself to

be a champion of democracy and dedicated to its

improvement. We urge the other party to recognize that its

integration into legitimacy by means of negotiation is the

only feasible course that would allow it to participate in the

building of a new Guatemala.

Guatemalans believe that the authority of the State

should be based on the mandate of its people, that any

Government must act with the consent of the majority of

the governed, and that the voice of the people must be

heard in the formulation and implementation of government

policy. As far as we are concerned, these are vital and

fundamental components of democracy. We understand

that there may be differences of opinion as to the form of

the people’s expression of this mandate and its participation

in the various political forums of the State. We also

believe that no State has the right to impose its political

system on any other.

For us, the fundamental characteristics of the system

should be the legitimacy of the people’s mandate, the

authenticity of its consent to be governed and the

effectiveness of its participation. Similarly, democracy

between States requires strict and meticulous respect for

the United Nations Charter.

Guatemala participates with the Central American

countries in a process of regional integration that has

undergone institutional renewal. We consider integration

to be a process deeply rooted in our common history and

culture and an instrument of momentous importance for

the development of our peoples.

For this reason, together with the other countries of

the region, we are pursuing important initiatives such as

the Alliance for Sustainable Development, whose

principles are based on improving the quality of life of

our peoples, respect for and development of the diverse

potential and vitality of the Earth in a sustainable manner,

the promotion of peace and democracy as basic forms of

human coexistence and respect for human rights and the

multicultural and multi-ethnic nature of our region.

Furthermore, Guatemala is active in other regional

initiatives, such as the forthcoming ecological Summit in

Nicaragua and the International Conference on Peace and

Development, which will take place in Honduras. Both

of these events are part of the region’s endeavours to

promote economic and social development in Central

America.

In connection with the territorial dispute over Belize,

the Government of Guatemala will now be assisted by a

council made up of distinguished citizens, whose advice

will make it possible to define and give impetus to the

procedure for solving this dispute in the framework of the

position, well-known to the international community, that

is set forth in document A/49/94 of 14 March this year.

The Government of Guatemala reiterates its

readiness to continue direct discussions with the

Governments of Belize and the United Kingdom, in

conformity with the norms established for the peaceful

settlement of disputes, in order to arrive at a definitive

solution to the territorial dispute that exists between our

States, a position that Guatemala has unswervingly and

constantly upheld.

Guatemala wishes to reiterate its support for and

solidarity with the people of Haiti, reaffirming its

commitment to democracy and consequently to the

legitimately elected Government. In addition, it urges the

international community to seek a lasting solution to the

Haitian crisis that would set out not merely to restore

21

democracy but also to meet the basic needs of the

population.

My country feels bound to express its wish to see in

Cuba a peaceful transition to a democratic and pluralistic

regime. At the same time, we wish to express our

gratification at the new possibilities for dialogue that have

been developed in connection with the situation in that

country.

We also wish to mention our satisfaction with the

agreements reached between Israel and the Palestine

Liberation Organization and between Israel and Jordan.

These represent a momentous step forward in the quest for

a solution to one of the most complex regional conflicts.

Such agreements are unquestionably proof that peaceful

coexistence and understanding among States and nations is

possible, even in certain parts of the world where walls of

hostility and mistrust have been built up over the years.

We hail all the peoples of that region and call on them to

continue in their efforts to build peace.

Alongside these positive actions, we feel duty-bound

to voice our profound concern at the events that have taken

place in Rwanda. International cooperation must be

generously channelled to that country. It should be

regarded as part of an integrated effort to assist its

Government in the difficult process of rebuilding the State

with a view to ensuring that it is effective in tackling the

serious problems still persisting in the country.

We also share the concerns about the situation in

Bosnia and Herzegovina. The international community

must continue in its efforts to convince the parties to the

conflict of the imperative need to find an appropriate

solution that will put an end to this irrational conflict. This

conflict cannot be allowed to become a permanent situation.

Guatemala is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country,

and it views with great satisfaction the international

instruments that are being developed with a view to

integrating indigenous peoples into development.

Consistent with the precepts of our Magna Carta, the

Government is pursuing policies designed to recognize,

respect and encourage their lifestyles, customs, traditions,

social organization, languages and dialects, while also

providing protection to indigenous agricultural lands and

cooperatives.

With respect to the question of women, I should

underscore that the policy of the Government has been to

cooperate with other sectors of Guatemalan society in order

to pursue measures designed to expand the scope for

participation by women in the productive process and in

decision-making. Within the structure of the State itself,

there is an ever-growing number of women holding high

positions, at the same time bearing a share in major

responsibilities relating to the building of a prosperous

future for our society. At the same time, Government

action is designed to strengthen mechanisms designed to

protect women, mechanisms which are in conformity with

the resolutions adopted by this Organization designed to

advance the rights of women.

Turning now to attention given to children, the

Government is fostering joint activities with non-

governmental organizations in the private sector with a

view to combating drug addiction, illiteracy, malnutrition,

abandonment and other problems of children.

The World Summit for Social Development offers us

an opportunity to tackle development as a priority of the

international community and to redress the inequities that

are increasingly widening between developed and

developing countries. The progress that has been

achieved in the course of the work of the Preparatory

Committee must be further pursued, achieving the

consensus needed for the adoption of the draft declaration

and the programme of action.

The common interests of the developing world must

find reflection in the agendas of international forums and

agencies. To this end, mutual cooperation is the proper

vehicle, and the coordination endeavours of the

developing countries among themselves should be stepped

up.

Guatemala has acceded to the international

instruments designed to eradicate drug trafficking. The

present Government attaches priority to combating this

scourge. It goes without saying that we need solidarity

and international cooperation in order to eradicate it.

The economies of the developing world have had to

make great efforts to adapt and open up to world markets,

efforts which, in most cases, have had a high social cost.

Guatemala takes the view that trading relations among

States need to be based on the free exchange of goods

and services. We all need trade, and this makes it vital

to break down the barriers placed in its way, in

accordance with the spirit and principles of the World

Trade Organization.

22

As a consequence of the changes taking place in the

international arena, the United Nations has undertaken a

process of restructuring in an attempt to respond to the new

requirements of international relations. Guatemala believes

there is a need to reform the world Organization, and in

this respect we support the revitalization of the Economic

and Social Council, which would enable it to function in

keeping with present requirements. We are also in favour

of establishing a better balance between the General

Assembly, the Security Council and the Secretariat that

would allow the Assembly to play a more decisive role as

a forum for deliberation, negotiation and decision-making

on all global problems.

In this connection, Guatemala believes that the

question of equitable representation on and increase in the

membership of the Security Council holds pride of place in

the process of reforming this Organization. During this

process structures that emanated from and operated within

a world of confrontation should be reformed. The Security

Council should be restructured with a view to achieving

representation that is proper and equitable and reflects the

current international situation.

Guatemala notes with satisfaction the measures taken

by the Secretary-General to adapt the Organization to the

new international environment and to equip it with the

means to fulfil the objectives of the Charter. In this

respect, Guatemala has offered to participate in the

formation of the stand-by forces.

Peace-keeping operations are multiplying daily.

No one can deny that the role played by these forces in

dealing with a very large number of conflicts has prevented

them from worsening and has allowed latitude for dialogue

and negotiation. For this reason, they need to be given the

appropriate means for carrying out their activities, which

should always be based on the consent of the parties

concerned so as to safeguard the sovereignty of States and

respect for their domestic jurisdiction. They should act on

the basis of clearly defined mandates and well-delineated

fields of action.

The promotion of world peace should be one of the

central issues addressed by this Organization. In this

context, the limitation of arms production continues to be

necessary. All the resources used in weapons research and

development should be released and used to promote the

well-being of our peoples. Nuclear disarmament should

also be one of the major objectives on the agenda of the

international community in the coming years.

For this reason, and because of our peace-loving

tradition, we shall continue to strive to ensure that at the

meeting of States parties to the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to be held in 1995 the

Treaty’s validity should be extended indefinitely.

The ultimate aim of the contribution of each and

every one of our nations to this Organization is the

overall development of the human being. All nations

wish to see all their citizens enjoying the benefits of

comprehensive development. To achieve this there must

be cooperation between all the nations of the Earth.

My Government therefore is very pleased to

associate itself with the cordial welcome extended by the

Organization to South Africa on the occasion of its

reintegration into the United Nations, as well as to the

new Observers, especially the Sovereign Military Order

of Malta, whose humanitarian impact on the world has

been of great importance.

This gives full validity to the principle of

universality, which should prevail in the United Nations.

And this belief prompts us to touch on the question of a

country which is capable of making a significant

contribution to the search for solutions to the problems

that the nations of the world must face. The entry of the

Republic of China, Taiwan, into the United Nations

would strengthen the Organization, permitting and

encouraging it to deal properly with topics with global

implications.

Guatemala reaffirms its firm and resolute

determination to meet the commitments and

responsibilities it has undertaken in relation to its own

people and the international community, in order to assist

in building a fairer, more peaceful and developed

world.