S/PV.3780 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Guatemala, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At, the invitation of the President, Mr. Martini Herrera (Guatemala) took a,seat at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council welcomes the successful conclusion of the military observer mission attached to the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), in accordance with resolution 1094 (1997) of 20 January 1997, to verify the agreement on the definitive ceasefire between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria National Guatemalteca (URNG) signed at Oslo on 4 December 1996 (S/1996/1045*, annex). The Council commends the Secretary- General, his Special Representative, the Chief Military Observer and other dedicated personnel of the United Nations who have contributed to this undertaking. The Council further welcomes the full compliance of the Government of Guatemala and the URNG with the terms of the definitive ceasefire. “The Security Council commends both parties for the progress made in the implementation of the Peace Accords to date, in particular for the establishment of the Follow-Up Commission, which will oversee the implementation of the agreements, and for steps taken towards the establishment of the Historical Clarification Commission. The Council reiterates its call for both parties to continue to implement fully their commitments under the agreements signed in Guatemala City on 29 December 1996 as well as the commitments under the other agreements in the overall package of Peace Accords signed in Madrid, Mexico City, Oslo and Stockholm. “The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the peace process in Guatemala. The Council expresses its confidence that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, MINUGUA, and the international community will continue their support for the peace process in Guatemala and, in particular, for the implementation of the peace accords. ” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/28. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 1.40p.m.