Framework Agreement for the Resumption of the Negotiating Process
between the Government of Guatemala and the UNIDAD Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca
The delegations of the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca,
having met at Mexico City from 6 to 9 January 1994 under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
and as guests of the Government of Mexico, have reached the following agreement on the framework for the resumption
of the negotiating process aimed at achieving a firm and lasting peace:
I. Agenda for the negotiations
The parties shall negotiate on all the items included in the general agenda set forth in the
Mexico Agreement. The parties shall together decide on the scope of their undertakings, all of which shall be
subject to verification.
The Government and URNG undertake to be appropriately represented in the negotiations by
high-ranking delegates so that political agreements consistent with the constitutional order can be entered
into, without restricting their power to conclude agreements on institutional and constitutional reforms.
II. Moderation of the bilateral negotiations
The parties have agreed to request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint a
representative to serve as moderator of the bilateral negotiations between the Government and URNG. The parties
agree that the moderator may make proposals to facilitate the signing of a firm and lasting peace agreement.
III. Society at large
The two parties recognize the contribution of the sectors which, pursuant to the Oslo Agreement, have participated
in the meetings with URNG held at El Escorial, Ottawa, Quito, Metepec and Atlixco. These meetings have given an impetus to the
negotiating process in Guatemala. The participation and contributions of these sectors have helped to make possible the start of
direct negotiations between the Government and the command of URNG.
The parties agree that Guatemalan society continues to have an essential role to play in the achievement of
peace and in the process of reconciliation.
Without prejudice to other machinery and forums, whether temporary or permanent, for promoting national
reconciliation, the parties agree to promote the establishment of an Assembly open to the participation of non-governmental
sectors of Guatemalan society, provided that their legitimacy, representative character and lawfulness have been recognized.
The Assembly shall meet during the negotiating period and shall have the following functions:
- To discuss the substantive issues for the bilateral negotiations, i.e. items (ii) to (vii) of the general
agenda contained in the Mexico Agreement, with a view to formulating positions on which there is consensus;
- To transmit to the United Nations moderator, the Government of Guatemala and URNG the recommendations or
guidelines resulting from its deliberations. These recommendations and guidelines shall not be binding and shall be aimed at
fostering understanding between the parties. The Assembly shall discuss the substantive issues on the basis of a timetable that
is synchronized with the dates set for the bilateral negotiations and shall not delay the conduct of the bilateral negotiating
process;
- To consider bilateral agreements concluded by the parties on the substantive issues and endorse such
agreements so as to give them the force of national commitments, thereby facilitating their implementation. However, if for any
reason a bilateral agreement is not endorsed, the agreement shall continue to be valid.
The parties agree to request the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala to appoint the President of the
Assembly, considering for this office the conciliator, Monsignor Quezada Toruño. The President of the Assembly
shall be assisted by an organizing committee. The Committee shall be composed of representatives of each of the sectors
which participated in the Oslo process, together with representatives of the Maya people.
The President of the Assembly shall have the following functions:
- To convene the Assembly;
- To organize its deliberations with the assistance of the Organizing Committee;
- To promote the formulation of consensus recommendations regarding the substantive issues;
- To transmit to the United Nations moderator and to the parties the recommendations and guidelines that
result from the Assembly's deliberations and to participate in special meetings of the bilateral bureau convened to this end
by mutual agreement between the parties;
- To receive from the United Nations moderator the bilateral agreements on substantive issues signed by the
parties, put them before the Assembly and promote their endorsement by it.
IV. Role of the countries constituting the group of friends
The parties request the Governments of Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, the United States of America and
Venezuela to form a group of friends of the Guatemalan peace process. The friends will be kept duly informed of the progress
and content of the negotiations between the parties, and will have the following functions:
- To support, through their actions, the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
in order to facilitate the negotiating process;
- To give greater certainty and firmness to the commitments entered into by the parties in their
capacity as solemn witnesses to the agreements arrived at in the course of the negotiating process, when the parties so
request.
V. Procedures
- Disclosure: the parties agree that the bilateral negotiations will be conducted in the strictest secrecy in
order to ensure that they are carried on in an atmosphere of trust and seriousness. They agree that the only public information
on their conduct will be that made available by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. For purposes
of coordination with the work of the Assembly, the moderator and the President of the Assembly will draw up appropriate rules
to permit exchanges of information that do not impair the secrecy necessary for the work of the bilateral bureau.
- Time-frame: the parties express their commitment to arrive at a firm and lasting peace agreement
within the shortest possible time during 1994. In this context, they undertake to demonstrate the necessary flexibility
for successful negotiation of the general agenda.
- In the context of their efforts to facilitate the negotiating process, the parties have recognized
the desirability of resorting to all measures that will be conducive to rapprochements and agreements between them, and
declare themselves ready to respond to the requests made by the moderator in this respect.
VI. Verification mechanisms
Verification is a vital element in ensuring compliance with and respect for the agreements. Consequently,
the parties reiterate that all the agreements must be accompanied by appropriate national and international verification
mechanisms. The experience and authority of the United Nations confer a high degree of reliability on international verification
by the Organization. The two parties agree to request the United Nations to verify all the agreements, in both their substantive
and their operational aspects.
Mexico, D.F., 10 January 1994
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA
(Signed) Héctor ROSADA GRANADOS
(Signed) General Marco Antonio GONZALEZ T.
(Signed) Mario PERMUTH LITSWA
(Signed) General Victor Manuel ARGUETA V.
(Signed) Max KESTLER FARNES
(Signed) Colonel Victor Manuel VENTURA A.
(Signed) Antonio ARENALES FORNO
(Signed) Ernesto VITERI ECHEVERRIA
FOR THE UNIDAD REVOLUCIONARIA NACIONAL GUATEMALTECA
General Command
(Signed) Commander Gaspar ILOM
(Signed) Commander Pablo MONSANTO
(Signed) Commander Rolando MORAN
Political and Diplomatic Commission
(Signed) Luis Becker GUZMAN
(Signed) Miguel Angel SANDOVAL
(Signed) Mario Vinicio CASTAÑEDA
Adviser
FOR THE UNITED NATIONS
(Signed) Jean ARNAULT
United States Institute of Peace -- 1200 17th Street NW -- Washington, DC 20036
(202) 457-1700 (phone) -- (202) 429-6063 (fax)
Send Feedback
