PEACE IN GUATEMALA
A REALITY IN 1996

December 29, 1996 becomes a historic date with the signature of the Final Peace Accord between the Government of the Republic and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity -URNG- to put end to the internal armed confrontation.

Since January 14, 1996, when Alvaro Arzú-Irigoyen took office as the President of the Republic of Guatemala, the conditions were established which led the Peace Commission of the government -COPAZ- and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity -URNG- to sing the final accords to put an end to the internal armed confrontation that has brought pain to this Central American country for over than three decades.

Upon taking office as President of Guatemala, Alvaro Arzú pledged to put an end to almost thirty-five years of internal armed confrontation through dialogue, as one of the first priorities of his Administration. He injected dynamism to the peace negotiations process , and this included a meeting that he had with the commanders of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity a few weeks after he became the head of the Executive branch of the government.

Convinced that Guatemala could not continue to be immersed in confrontation and in the armed struggle, Mr. Arzú appointed a high level task force to resume negotiations with the rebels. His promise has been fulfilled.

Within the framework of this action, the parties made a commitment to conclude negotiations in 1996. The Arzu Administration now faces the challenge of initiating the process of conciliation, which is an effort in which every sector in our society must participate, because the end of the armed conflict is but the beginning of the road that will take us to rebuild Guatemala.

In March, the Government and the representatives of URNG agreed to cease armed hostilities. This created the political climate that lead to statements of confidence and support for the peace negotiations process by various national and international sectors. From that moment on, there where no more dead, wounded, orphans or widows.

TOWARDS A FIRM AND LASTING PEACE

Official peace talks between the Arzú Administration and URNG began on February 22 of this year in Mexico City.

The parties confirmed their decision to negotiate and acknowledged the important support that the process received from the United Nations Organization in its role as an observer, moderator and verifier. They also acknowledged the contribution made by the Assembly of the Civil Society of Guatemala, by the Group of Countries that are Friendly to the Peace Process: Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, the United States and Venezuela, and by the international community at large.

The parties signed the Accord on Social, Economic and Land Issues on May 6 in Mexico City. This is believed to be one of the most complex accords.

On August 6, the Governmental Peace Commission and URNG issued a Joint Statement, also in Mexico City whereby they pledged to conclude their negotiations in 1996.

Europe was also stage to the process when the discussions of the Operational Accords took place. Several European countries welcomed the peace talks with great interest. They also welcomed initiatives to contribute significant financial resources to implement the important accords.

During the first fortnight of September, the parties signed the Accord "strengthen the civil power an the role of the Army in a democratic society". This is an extremely important issue in the country.

The schedule to reincorporate former war fighters was discussed in October. Subsequently, the agreement about their reincorporation was signed in Madrid; the agreement for the constitutional reform was signed in Stockholm and the cease fire agreement was signed in Olso. Simultaneously, in November, the Guatemalan Congress discussed the legal figure which is required to be able to reincorporate former fighters. December 29 saw the culmination of the process with the signature of the Firm and Lasting Peace Accord.

The government of President Alvaro Arzú has thus fulfilled one of its most important promises to the Guatemala people: to accomplish peace and take the road to development with the help of international cooperation, to tackle the important objectives that Guatemala faces in its endeavor to reorient a pluri-cultural society where various ethnic groups live together and where bold policies of fraternal life together need to be defined to create unity and diversity. Every sector in Guatemala's society and international community have acknowledged the enormous efforts that the government of Guatemala has made to accomplish peace.

BACKGROUND TO THE PEACE PROCESS

The peace process in Guatemala was discussed in Central American Presidential Summit held in the Guatemalan village of Esquipulas in August 1987, during the Cerezo Administration. A document was signed that set forth the "Procedures to Establish a Firm Lasting Peace in Central America".

During the final stage of the process, the following events were an accomplishment of President Arzú:

May 6, 1996:
Signature of the Accord on Social, Economic and Land Issues.

September 19, 1996
The Accord to Strengthen the Civil Power and the Role of the Army In Democratic Society was signed.

November-December, 1996:
Cease fire
Constitutional reforms and electoral system
Bases to reincorporate fighters to civilian life
Firm and Lasting Peace Accord signature

Before President Arzú take office, the following documents were signed "Global Human Rights Accord", the "Accord for resettlement of Populations that come Uprooted as a Result of the Armed Confrontation", the "Accord on the Establishment of the commission of the Historic Clarification of Human Rights Violations and Violent acts that have Brought Suffering to the Guatemalan People" and the "Accord on the Identity and Rights of the Indigenous People".

The most important objective for the Arzú Administration now is to see conciliation among the Guatemalan people and to set up conditions in the country that favor full social, political and economic development. It is from this perspective that the administration sees peace.

GUATEMALA: ON THE ROAD TO CONCILIAION

"From now on we will live in the culture of life, of hope for a new resurrection, where we will no longer look to the past. The streams of tears caused by the injustices of those who despised the poor and the weak should now move us to forgive because vengeance does not bring the dead back".

Alvaro Arzú Guatemala, January 14, 1996