United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala

“ I also met with representatives of the United Nations system and the international community, who are contributing efficiently to post-conflict peace-building in Guatemala. I found that, while my interlocutors’ assessment of the impact of the peace process varied, all were committed to the goals of the Peace Agreements and considered their implementation to be the best avenue for the democratization and development of the country. ”

“ At the same time, the Mission noted the continued weakness of state institutions in spite of the current reform process, in particular in the face of the high level of crime in the country. These shortcomings jeopardize the State’s ability to fulfil its duty to guarantee human rights to its citizens, a situation which, in turn, limits popular support for the peace process. ”

“ III. State of implementation 4. In its resolution 52/175, the General Assembly considered my report of 31 October 1997, called upon the parties to continue to implement the commitments they entered into in the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and those in the other peace agreements, in particular those contained in the second phase of the timetable; and urged the parties and all sectors of Guatemalan society to further strengthen the efforts towards consensus-building, reconciliation and development, with particular attention to the most vulnerable sectors of society. ”