GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT AND URNG CONCLUDE 1995 NEGOTIATIONS
Press Release
SG/SM/5856
CA/113
GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT AND URNG CONCLUDE 1995 NEGOTIATIONS
19951219 The following statement was originally issued in Spanish on Friday, 15 December, by the United Nations moderator of the peace negotiations between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG):On Friday, 15 December, the delegations of the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) concluded in Mexico City their final negotiating session for the current year.
In order to facilitate the continuation of the negotiating process after the new government takes office, the parties evaluated the work undertaken since last April on "socioeconomic aspects and the agrarian situation" and produced a working document showing the points of convergence and divergence which still exist on this issue.
On the occasion of this final meeting with the representatives of President Ramiro de Leon Carpio's Government, the United Nations representatives pointed out the progress made since the signing of the Framework Agreement on 10 January 1994. The URNG General Command joined the United Nations in recognizing the efforts of the members of the Government's Peace Commission (COPAZ) during the past two years, as well as their dedication to the negotiating process and to the cause of peace.
Both parties underlined the significance of the agreements that have been signed and the importance of full compliance with them. They reiterated the value of the negotiating process as a means of ending the armed conflict and the need to ensure continuity during 1996 until a final peace agreement is signed.
The representatives of the Government of Guatemala, the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) and the United Nations expressed their thanks to the Governments of the Friends of the Guatemala Peace Process (Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, United States and Venezuela) for their support of the negotiation and implementation of the agreements. The delegations also reiterated their appreciation for the generous hospitality of the Government of Mexico, which has provided the best conditions for the holding of the talks.
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