United Nations Secretary-General

“ Firm and lasting peace must be based on participatory socio-economic development that is geared to the common good and to the needs of the entire population. Such development requires social justice, as one of the cornerstones of national unity and solidarity, and sustainable economic growth as a prerequisite for meeting the population's social demands. ”

“ Recognition of the identity and rights of indigenous peoples is essential for building a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual country of national unity. Respect for and the exercise of the political, cultural, economic and spiritual rights of all Guatemalans is the foundation for a new coexistence reflecting the diversity of their nation. ”

“ The Guatemalan people are entitled to know the full truth about the human rights violations and acts of violence that occurred in the context of the internal armed conflict. Shedding light objectively and impartially on what happened will contribute to the process of national reconciliation and democratization in the country. ”

“ Sponsor amendments to the legislation on unused land to bring it into line with the Constitution, and regulate by means of incentives and penalties the underuse of land and its use in a manner incompatible with sustainable natural resources use and environmental conservation. Such amendments should include a new tax scale for the annual tax on unused land, imposing significantly higher taxes on privately owned unused and/or underused land. ”

“ Raising the standard of living and ensuring health care, education, social security and training for Guatemalans are preconditions for achieving sustainable development in Guatemala.
9. The State and organized sectors of society must join forces to find a solution to agrarian problems and promote rural development, both of which are the key to improving the situation of the majority of the population living in rural areas - the population group most seriously affected by poverty, inequity and the weakness of State institutions. ”

“ Design and present a methodology for evaluating whether the tax system is universally progressive, in line with the basic principles established in the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and the Agrarian Situation. ”

“ Regularize the award of tile for lands belonging to indigenous communities and uprooted population groups and for beneficiaries of the National Institute for Agrarian Reform (INTA) who are the lawful owners of the land which they have been granted. With respect to communal land, regulate participation by the communities concerned to ensure that it is they who take the decisions concerning their land. ”

“ Promote conditions enabling small and medium-scale farmers to have access to credit, individually or in groups, on a financially sustainable basis. In particular, with the support of the business sector and non-governmental development organizations, promote the strengthening of local savings and loan agencies, such as associations, cooperatives and the like, so that they can provide credit and financial services to small and medium-sized businesses efficiently and in accordance with local needs and conditions. ”

“ Begin implementation of a government agricultural sector investment programme in production lines linked to agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Rural development investment programme 103. Begin implementation of the rural development investment programme, paying special attention to areas where uprooted population groups are being resettled and areas where poverty is greatest, with emphasis on basic infrastructure (main roads, rural roads, electricity, telecommunications, water and environmental sanitation) and production projects, for a total of 300 million quetzales in 1997. ”

“ Design and implement programmes of out-of-school education, training and technical training, as well as training programmes in communities and enterprises and, in rural areas, programmes to improve business management skills and enhance the skills, diversification and productivity of human resources. ”

“ Make the public educational, financial, health, commercial, assistance and insurance institutions, facilities and units corresponding to the needs and functions of the Guatemalan armed forces operate under the same conditions as other similar non-profit institutions. ”

“ Sponsor legislation and mechanisms for imposing, in consultation with municipalities, a land tax in rural areas in which it is easy for the municipalities to collect revenues. The tax, from which small properties shall be exempt, will help to discourage owners from leaving land unused or underused. It must not encourage deforestation of woodlands. ”

“ In the search for growth, economic policy must be directed towards preventing processes of economic exclusion, such as unemployment and impoverishment, and towards optimizing the benefits of economic growth for all Guatemalans. ”

“ Strengthen the securities market for the purchase of housing, including the provision of first and second mortgages, facilitate the sale of securities issued for housing operations, including common and preferential stock in property development companies, mortgage bonds and debentures, certificates of real estate shareholdings, supplemental letters, promissory notes and other documents related to rentals with an option to buy. ”

“ Develop a system for compiling, systematizing and disseminating agricultural, forestry, agro-industrial and fisheries information and a system of storage centres and free zones. Support the strengthening of the various forms of organization of micro-, small and medium-scale agricultural and rural enterprises and encourage the amalgamation of smallholdings if smallholders so desire. ”

“ It sets out a calendar for the phased implementation of those commitments from 1997 to the end of 2000 and for the establishment of the Follow-up Commission to ensure that the process is carried out effectively. The Agreement also requests the Secretary-General to establish a mission to verify all the agreements, into which the current United Nations Mission for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala (MINUGUA) is to be absorbed. ”

“ Decentralize support systems, including the purchasing and procurement system, the human resources system, the information and statistics system, the financial management system and the revenue collection system. ”

“ Encourage the establishment and strengthening of community participation systems, such as cooperatives and self-managed and family businesses, to ensure that beneficiaries are able to participate in the execution of plans, the construction of housing and the provision of services. ”

“ Sponsor and introduce a bill regulating the functioning and scope of private security companies, with a view to monitoring their activities and the professionalism of their personnel, and ensure, in particular, that such companies and their employees limit their operations to their own sphere of activity, under the strict control of the National Civil Police. ”

“ A commission made up of representatives of URNG and of the Government of Guatemala shall be established, under the coordination of the United Nations, in order to provide logistical support to the ceasefire and demobilization process. The number of members of the Commission shall be determined in accordance with needs. ”

“ Strengthen the policy of ensuring protection for Guatemalan nationals outside the country, especially members of the uprooted population living abroad, and make the necessary arrangements with host countries to ensure that this population has stable immigrant status. ”

“ To promote the effective participation of all social sectors in meeting their needs, particularly in establishing public policies concerning them, and accordingly, to set timetables for those actions that depend on the consensus-building mechanisms provided for in the Agreements, taking into account their outcome ”

“ Once agreement is reached on the kind of economic activity in which they are to engage, they shall be eligible for specific programmes of technical and vocational training.
Health 63. In the demobilization phase, ensure that combatants gathered at assembly points receive a medical check-up. The necessary action shall be taken to treat cases identified by the check-up, either in the camps or locally. The Special Integration Commission shall ensure that patients who require further treatment are referred to the corresponding services. ”

“ H. Agreement on the Definitive Ceasefire Entry into force 37. The ceasefire shall enter into force as of 0000 hours on D-Day, the date on which the United Nations verification mechanism shall be in place with full operational capacity. This phase must be completed by no later than D+60, with the demobilization of URNG.
38. The Parties undertake to maintain the current cessation of offensive military activity by URNG and of counter-insurgent military activities by the Guatemalan armed forces until D-Day. ”

“ Protection of rural workers 160. Adopt administrative and/or criminal penalties against those responsible for abuses against migrant agricultural workers, farmhands, tenant farmers and day labourers in the context of hiring through middlemen, sharecropping, payment in kind and the use of weights and measures. ”

“ Public spending on health 150. By the year 2000, increase public spending on health as a proportion of GDP by 50 per cent over the 1995 level and allocate at least 50 per cent of public health spending to preventive health care. ”