On behalf of the Guatemalan delegation, over which I have the honor
to preside, I wish to express to you, Mr. Hollai, congratulations on
your unanimous election as President of the General Assembly. Such a
high distinction is well deserved recognition of your human act
professional qualities and your profound knowledge of the problems
being discussed in the Organization. I am convinced that under your
able leadership our tasks will attain the very best results. Mease
rest assured that you may count on the whole hearted cooperation of
the Guatemalan delegation. I also wish to express my delegation's
recognition of the work accomplished under the direction of Mr.
Kittani as President of the previous session. My delegation greets
with special satisfaction the Secretary General, Mr. Javier Perez de
Cuellar, that illustrious Latin American diplomat, who is
indefatigable in his efforts in search of a more effective role for
the United Nations in its endeavors to attain international peace,
understanding and harmony. As regards the national policy of my
country, I wish to declare that the present Government of the
Republic of Guatemala, which assumed power on 23 March of this year
to put an end to a practically untenable situation stemming from
corruption and lack of respect for the will of the people as
expressed at the polls, received the immediate assent and approval of
the entire Guatemalan people and met with expressions of
international acceptance and satisfaction. The goals of the
Government of Guatemala are basically to bring peace to the country,
which is now in such a serious state of upheaval, especially in some
areas, as a result of actions by subversive groups which have sown
terror among the population and caused incalculable personal and
material damage to inhabitants, forcing them to abandon their places
of origin, disintegrating families, causing suffering, desolation and
death. My Government is trying to bring into active productivity and
the benefits of progress through policies, projects and development
programmes, a great mass of the native population which has lived a
forsaken and marginal existence and thus to eliminate as much as
possible the enormous social differences that now prevail. It is
trying also to reduce the causes of dissatisfaction and frustration
in various sectors of the population, to bring about respect for
universally recognized human rights, and observance and full exercise
thereof, to accelerate the process of integrated and harmonious
development for the entire country, to reactivate the country's
economy and to create everywhere the conditions necessary for the
country, to move towards a political event in which citizens may
freely choose their new authorities and thereby return to
constitutional normalcy. On coming to power the new Government of
Guatemala, which is presided over by General Jose Efrain Rios Montt,
outlined 14 points containing its aspirations and the guidelines to
be followed in order to achieve full wellbeing for the people of
Guatemala. Those points are as follows: first, to make the people
aware that the authorities are there to serve them and not the people
to serve the authorities; second, to bring about the reconciliation
of the entire Guatemalan family for the benefit of peace and national
concord; third, to ensure the security and tranquility of the
individual, through absolute respect for human rights; fourth, to
restore individual and national dignity; fifth, to develop a
nationalistic spirit and to create the foundation for the
participation and integration of the various ethnic groups that make
up our nation; sixth, to bring about the economic recovery of the
nation in keeping with the free enterprise system, through the
controls required by the present state of the nation; seventh, to
restructure the judicial power, with the participation of the Bar
Association, in order to adapt it to present circumstances and ensure
that it Motions in accordance with ethical, moral and juridical
norms; eighth, to eradicate administrative corruption and promote
among civil servants a genuine spirit of public service, which
constitutes the foundation of a national Government; ninth, to
encourage among the various pressure groups which represent national
activity a new development oriented reformist and nationalistic
spirit; tenth, to strengthen national integration, efficiently
utilizing the cooperation of other States and international
organizations, at the same time pointing out certain problems of the
State in its foreign relations; eleventh, to improve the standard of
living of the people in order to reduce existing differences;
twelfth, to restructure the electoral system so that as a true
democratic institution it represents the political participation of
the people and so that their wishes are not frustrated; thirteenth,
to reorganize the public administration so that government programmes
are carried out in a dynamic way and to ensure its efficiency and
control its regular functioning, thereby avoiding administrative
anarchy; fourteenth, to restore a constitutional form of government
for the country within a fixed period of time, so that Guatemalans
will know and demand their rights and know their duties and
obligations within free democratic institutions. To attain those
objectives the Government of the Republic of Guatemala has since
coming to power taken steps to cleanse the public administration,
reduce public expenditure through a policy of austerity, promote
investments, increase exports of traditional and nontraditional
products and to provide immediate help to the villages affected by
subversive violence. At the political level, a Council of State has
been created, with members representing all the sectors of the
country and constituting an advisory body of the Government of the
Republic and a balancing factor within it. It should be emphasized
that this is a body which, for the first time in the history of the
country, comprises the various ethnic elements which make up the
nation, so that they now have a forum in which to put forward their
problems, needs and desires and the aspirations of their respective
communities. In the future they will participate with all the other
sectors of the nation in the decision making process, so that we are
better able to define the destiny of the Republic. The President of
the Republic, in his address at the inauguration of the Council of
State, said: The political concept which at present we define as
Guatemalan reformism or reform will be valid only when the various
objectives materialize and become legal fact. These objectives,
reached over the short, intermediate or long term, will be the
framework upon which the roof of our nationality will rest. Among
other general objectives, since the detailed objectives will be
established by mutual agreement and depending upon the encouragement
provide I by the participation of those sectors concerned in the
development of our nation, we point out the following. First, the
Council of State shall legislate on the privileges and exemptions of
Guatemalans, enhancing and reinforcing in this legal body all that
pertains to human rights. These rights must be examined, publicized,
taught and practiced and their principles should serve as the basis
for all types of legislation. The present Government is committed to
the inclusion in the fundamental laws of Guatemala of everything that
pertains to human rights. Secondly, the Council of State shall
propose the legal procedures through which political development may
be guaranteed with the utmost security and respect for social
stability. To this end, basic agreements must be reached to ensure
the democratization of the country, thus establishing its own system,
efficient and reliable, just and flexible, capable of meeting the
problems inherent in our national identity, and a strong State which
will be representative, consolidated and dynamic. Thirdly, the
Council of State shall, furthermore, draft a provisory law for the
purpose of electing a Constituent Assembly which will broaden
political life by the authentic representation of all Guatemalans, promoting
participation by the people and consolidation of the State by
encouraging the expression of public opinion and organizing large
numbers of people and social groups in order to establish a more
united society which will emphasize our common interests and ensure
the enjoyment of harmony with freedom among its pluralistic
constituents. In view of the frustrations suffered by the
Guatemalans, the repeated and successive contradictions inherited
from previous Governments, the lack of an overall strategy on the
part of the political authorities to deal with subversion; the lack
of solutions to our basic problems; the total lack of any ethical or
moral example set by those leading or claiming to lead the nation;
and in view of the obvious irresponsibility in the management of the
national economy and the widespread corruption, the Guatemalan army
commits itself to lead the country, the President asked me to state
before the Guatemalan people, with firmness and a vocation to serve,
towards a democratization process which will create the conditions
and legal machinery required for the establishment of a Government
that will represent legitimacy and put an end to corruption. The
Guatemalan army firmly rejected the disruptive activities of
individuals or institutions, as well as the corrupting effects of any
demagogy on the part of those who that upon themselves rights which
are only the result of their own frustration, irresponsibility or
ignorance. Corruption in former regimes led Guatemala to a process of
decay, not only politically but also socially, spiritually and
morally, and to the loss of the ethical values that are essential to
people's lives. For this reason, the Government of the Republic has
encouraged a dialogue between the people and the authorities; and it
is hoped that by example, new attitudes and the implementation of a
new philosophy of Government, these intrinsic values of our people
will be gradually restored, so that together with material
development can also be a change in the ethical and spiritual
standards, which will unquestionably enable Guatemala to see its
future more clearly, recover its identity as a nation, and shape its
own destiny. Our national problems are difficult, we shall need
sacrifice, effort, work and good will on the part of all Guatemalans
to see our country through. It is to these noble tasks that we are
presently devoted, tasks that will undoubtedly also require
international understanding and cooperation. The stage which
Guatemala is presently going through is critical because the
structures, resources, values and principles that held good are now
being judged and analyzed so that we can apply them in future and
gain a clear and revised image of our situation. We are in fact a
country where there is a great deal to be done. And so it must be
when a people decides to face the responsibility of building its own
history. From experience we have learned that if we do not take the
making of our own history into our own hands, others will do it for
us in their own way, which implies an ominous fate for a people which
respects itself: intervention. The historic commitment of the present
Government of Guatemala is to consolidate the peace and security of
the nation; to solve the serious economic crisis which is affecting
Guatemala, as indeed it is affecting the entire world, because of an
economic recession which in Central America has become aggravated by
internal causes; to restructure and incorporate large sectors that
are representative of the country and which have been unjustly left
out in the past and have not participated in the democratic decision
making of the nation, but which under a new and safe electoral system
will for the first time freely exercise their right of universal
suffrage, thus ensuring the self determination of the people of
Guatemala and ruling out the electoral fraud which in the past has
been the means of diverting our democracy from its true course; to
return to a state of law and to install a democratic Government
representative of all the people, a process whose gradual development
will be completed by the beginning of 1985. We are convinced that all
sectors of the country will patriotically cooperate in this
enterprise to implement a true democracy involving the representation
and participation of the people of Guatemala. That is our commitment,
and those are the firm steps we shall take towards the future of
Guatemala in the search for a better national and international
destiny. From this rapid glance at the transformation which has taken
place in my country, it can be inferred that its international policy
will also be different from now on. Without underestimating the
sacred concepts of the sovereignty and independence of nations, the
Government I represent is aware of the interdependence of nations in
the economic, political and cultural fields and it recognizes the
need that our problems a id our differences be resolved in the
concert of nations, in open discussion, in the best way, on the basis
of respect and trust. In addition to the circumstances just
described, we have also had to deal with a national disaster in the
southern part of the country, brought about by an atmospheric
depression, causing loss of human life, crops and property. All this
has brought a shadow of mourning over Guatemala. I wish to take this
opportunity publicly to express, on behalf of the Government of
Guatemala, our appreciation for the prompt and effective help we have
received from friendly Governments and international organizations.
As regards the foreign policy of my country, the Government of
Guatemala has since the day it assumed power on 23 March this year,
seen the necessity of revitalizing our democratic institutions and
restoring the fundamental values of the people and the dignity of the
nation, and it has declared its intention of abiding by and complying
with the international commitments acquired by Guatemala and
maintaining full respect for the legal rules governing relations
between States, as well as cooperating closely with the organizations
that concern themselves at the international level with human rights
and guard and protect their exercise. The Government of Guatemala
intends to strengthen its bonds of friendly relations and cooperation
with all countries with which such relations already exist and to
extend them to all countries which love peace and democracy and which
desire such relations, in order to achieve the principles of progress
within the international community. Guatemala also wishes to confirm
its trust in international organizations and its decision to comply
with commitments undertaken in terms of the principles and the
Charter of the United Nations and those of the charter of the
Organization of American States and to reaffirm my Government's
support for the United Nations as the principal instrument for
maintaining peace and strengthening international security. As
regards our Central American policy, Guatemala pursues a policy of
fraternity with the countries of the region, as we have the same
origin, we acceded to independent life at the same time, we make up a
geographic unit, we share the same history, we speak the same
language, we have the same traditions and customs and we face similar
problems. Maintaining utmost respect for the principle of
nonintervention in the internal affairs of other countries, Guatemala
seeks a rapprochement with the sister nations of Central America. The
terms of this rapprochement can best be summarized as respect for the
highest values of humanity, namely peace, justice and freedom, and
the building of economic, legal and political mechanisms for the
development of the Isthmus, to promote cooperation among our nations,
to strengthen the bonds among our peoples and to engage in a joint
search for a more promising future for the area, which of late has
seen 50 many upheavals. At the Latin American level, Guatemalan
policy is aimed at reaffirming its faith in the inter American
system, the objectives of which are outlined.in the charter of the
OAS; our international policy at the regional level is one of interrelation,
solidarity and cooperation with the countries of the region. We
believe that Latin America must play its proper role, within the
world community, for it is a continent that has struggled for the
principles of freedom, social justice and dignity and a region that
has a geo political influence of undeniable importance within the
world community. Guatemala has faith in the historic destiny of our
America and believes that by strengthening relations in the
hemisphere within the framework of the QAS, Latin America will be in
a position to promote gradual, independent and sovereign development
for its peoples and to secure for them the conditions necessary to
derive maximum benefit from their natural resources and to utilize
the advances of science and technology. As far as world policy is
concerned, Guatemala supports those democracies which respect the
dignity of the human being. In the economic field, Guatemala, as a
developing nation, shares the just aspirations of the third world
countries and, as a member of the Group of 77, we share the concern
of poor nations with regard to the obvious international injustice
evident at many levels but fundamentally in the areas of
international trade and economics. As regards human rights, the
Fundamental Statute of Government, which constitutes the highest
legal instrument regulating the actions of the Government of the
Republic of Guatemala, provides that respect for human rights is one
of the basic principles of its internal organization and of its
international relations. The same Fundamental Statute of Government
defines human rights and elaborates on them in its articles, covering
basic human rights, civil and political human rights and social,
economic and cultural human rights. The Government of the Republic
respects those rights within the country and internationally it is
cooperating with the organizations created to ensure their
observance. In line with this policy, the Government of the Republic
extended a cordial invitation to the whole Inter American Commission
on Human Rights to visit Guatemala to ascertain that those rights
were being observed, within the context of the national situation.
This invitation was accepted with pleasure and the visit took place
during the week of 20 to 26 September this year. The Inter American
Commission on Human Rights publicly recognized that its members
enjoyed full cooperation and broad freedom during their stay in
Guatemala while carrying out an in depth investigation of human
rights in my country. They met with officials from the Government,
institutions, associations, representative groups and political
parties, as well as with individuals and legal entities who wished to
file complaints. They travelled to the interior of the country,
visiting the villages of their choice, to interview the inhabitants
and exchange impressions with them and to view on the spot their
problems and their living conditions from a human rights standpoint.
The report of the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, once the
procedural requirements laid down in its rules and regulations have
been met, will be made public by the Commission and may be read by
the entire international community. At the end of their visit the
members of the Commission made recommendations to the Government of
Guatemala, which are at present under consideration for appropriate
implementation. Within the jurisdiction of the United Nations, the
Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint a special rapporteur to
investigate the human rights situation in Guatemala. The Government
asked the Secretary General to propose the name of a candidate for
that post. The person proposed has already been appointed and has
been accepted by my Government, and he will be given full cooperation
and freedom for the fulfilment of his mission. There have also been
interviews and conversations with the Working Group to examine
questions relevant to involuntary or enforced disappearances of
persons, established by the Commission on Human Rights, and the
information requested concerning cases under consideration by it has
been submitted. It has been offered our full cooperation for the
fulfilment of its mandate. This attitude by the Government of
Guatemala reflects its sincere mention to improve the human rights
situation in the country and to request the assistance of the
relevant international organizations in order to make human rights in
Guatemala more effective every day. I turn now to the problem of the
Malvinas Islands. Following the decision of the Republic of Argentina
to reincorporate the Malvinas Islands within its sovereignty,
Guatemala confirmed its position in support of that sister nation's
legitimate rights over those islands and endorsed its determination
to claim sovereignty over them. My country, in public declarations
and in statements both in the Security Council and at the twentieth
consultative meeting of Foreign Ministers convened by the OAS in
accordance with the Inter American Reciprocal Assistance Treaty,
expressed its views in connection with the Malvinas Islands,
reaffirming its solidarity with the Republic of Argentina and
recognizing the latter's full rights to territorial integrity. In the
Security Council itself Guatemala stated: It is inconceivable that
the colonialist system, which is fortunately in its death throes
throughout the world, including our continent, should have sprung to
life, allowing a colonialist empire to impose its interests upon our
America to the detriment of a Latin American country, whose right to
sovereignty over the full extent of its territory has been
internationally recognized. We believe that this matter should be
dealt with through negotiations so that the vast majority of the
States that make up this international community may maintain their
faith and belief that international justice lives and prevails, even
when what is at stake are the interests of great Powers which seek to
impose their will by means of their military might. If this does not
come about, Latin America will consider this action against Argentina
as a serious threat to all of Latin America too and very disturbing
for the rest of the world, which might suffer similar treatment if an
attempt were made to subject them to similar circumstances. We have
witnessed the anguish of a Latin American republic being attacked by
an extra continental Power in violation of international law, and we
have also been grieved at the fact that Argentina did not receive the
response of solidarity which it should have in this case and provided
for in treaties which up to now have been in full force and fully
complied with. As the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guatemala,
I had the honor to sign together with the Foreign Ministers of other
Latin American countries, a request for the inclusion of an item on
the Malvinas Islands in the agenda of the present session of the
General Assembly, to be discussed in plenary meeting. None the less,
I now urge the countries involved in the controversy to resume as
soon as possible the required negotiations under the auspices of the
United Nations for the purpose of resolving that dispute. The
peaceful settlement of disputes is and must continue to be, within
the United Nations, perhaps the most powerful instrument for
achieving peace and security. The General Assembly has not discussed
the question of Korea in the pa x years. Guatemala feels that it
should be for the Koreans themselves to find a peaceful solution to
the problem of Korea and that the Organization can help to create a
favorable climate in which to resume inter Korean talks rather than
engage in an unproductive debate on the question. Nevertheless, in
view of the tense and unstable situation prevailing at present in the
Korean peninsula, my country is of the opinion that resumption of the
dialogue between North and South Korea is urgent, so that, through
direct negotiations and without outside pressure or interference,
they may find a solution to their differences. To that end, it is
essential that North Korea make the political decision to return to
the conference table as soon as possible. Guatemala believes that,
irrespective of the main objective that total reunification of the
Korean peninsula be achieved, both South Korea and North Korea, as a
means of relieving the existing tension and creating conditions
favorable to the stability of the area, could be admitted as Members
of the United Nations, pursuant to the principle of universality
provided for in the Charter. In regard to disarmament, with which the
United Nations has concerned itself since its creation my delegation
would like to quote the statement by the President of Guatemala sent
as a contribution by my country to the twelfth special session of the
General Assembly, the second special session devoted to disarmament:
Guatemala, whose people and Government are deeply committed to peace,
deems it appropriate to express its ideas to this forum convened to
discuss all aspects of disarmament. Guatemala considers that the arms
reduction campaign is vital for the peace of the world, the
development of States and the prosperity of peoples. It is necessary
to express openly the dangers inherent in the continuation of the
arms race and to dispel the hope that peace and security can coexist
with the accumulation of vast quantities of means of destruction.
General and complete prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons is of
paramount importance, since it helps to reduce the risk of nuclear
war which would mean a holocaust for mankind. My country believes
that both atomic and nuclear energy should be used only for peaceful
purposes and for the benefit of the human race. Guatemala considers
that a lasting peace can: be secured only through general and
complete disarmament under effective and strict international control
and not through a balance of armaments between the great Powers.
Disarmament is one of the objectives proclaimed by the United Nations
for over three decades, but despite the numerous initiatives adopted,
by the Organization, the world is witnessing a frenzied arms race.
Although the great Powers should be primarily responsible for
disarmament, Guatemala believes that it would also be desirable to
ban sophisticated weapons in Latin America as a way of contributing
to universal disarmament and of increasing the resources allocated to
economic and social development. The Treaty of Tlatelolco, to which
Guatemala is a party, is a very useful instrument for preventing
Latin America from being converted into a depository of nuclear arms
or a test site for atomic weapons. I feel it is appropriate to
underscore the great importance of the highly industrialized
countries understanding that if, instead of devoting large sums of
money to the production of weapons of mass destruction, they were to
channel those resources to poor countries to help them in their
efforts to achieve integral and harmonious development, the major
scourges of hunger, unemployment, malnutrition, illiteracy and
precarious living conditions which prevail in the third world would
be considerably reduced. Peace and social justice, which are the
greatest aspirations of mankind, can be achieved with the active
participation of all nations with a view to establishing a new
international order and creating for present and future generations a
more human and balanced world based on, solid foundations of equality
and dignity. Guatemala believes that all the problems of disarmament
should not continue to be viewed in the traditional way, but that it
is necessary to extend the field of knowledge as to the attitude of
certain Powers and countries which unconditionally serve their
hegemonistic interests by providing subversive movements with arms,
munitions, military training, logistical support, money and
international patronage. If a global analysis of matters related to
disarmament is not carried out,, various initiatives to reduce
military expenditures and calls to Powers to halt their arms race
deal with only one aspect of the problem but overlook the other
aspect, which is the supplying of arms to subversive factions so that
they may continue to use terrorism and armed struggle as means to win
power, at the resulting cost of human lives and suffering and
hardship for the civilian population, as well as the unavoidable use
of resources to fight subversion, which could otherwise be used for
works of public benefit and major social interest. Guatemala notes
with satisfaction that the Third United Nations Conference on the Law
of the Sea, after holding several sessions, has succeeded in
producing the text of a Convention on the Law of the Sea. My country,
like others, sincerely regrets that a text which has the subject of
protracted negotiation has not been adopted by consensus because some
States have reservations concerning some of the provisions of the
instrument, basically those concerning the exploitation of sea
resources beyond national jurisdiction. Guatemala urges those nations
to show their goodwill by making concessions in their political
attitudes, so that the Convention on the Law of the Sea may be
strengthened through its implementation by all the States Members of
the Organization. Guatemala voted in favor of the Convention and will
sign it when it is open for signature by States. As regards Belize,
Guatemala reiterates and maintains in this Assembly its reservations
regarding the unilateral granting of independence to Belize by the
United Kingdom, ignoring Guatemala's legitimate rights to that
Territory, which was the subject of dispute under an international
legal controversy, in accordance with the peaceful procedures of the
Charter of the United Nations. That dispute remains unresolved
because of that unilateral and illegal act by the United Kingdom
which has created a permanent situation of insecurity in the area. We
feel it indispensable to resolve this controversy through
negotiations and by means of a peaceful solution that is equitable to
all parties, including basically the rights of Guatemala, which are
founded on solid historical, geographical, legal, political and moral
arguments. 170. Guatemala, confronted by this unacceptable action,
considers that the way in which independence was granted to Belize
was in violation of international norms; therefore, it does not
recognize that independence, it does not recognize Belize as a State,
nor does it recognize its sovereignty or its borders, or its
membership in the community of nations. That will continue as long as
a fair, equitable solution preserving Guatemala's legitimate rights
over the Territory and the interests of the population of Belize is
not found. 17l. Guatemala has asked the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland not to disregard its historical
responsibility in this matter and to continue direct negotiations so
that a peaceful and at the same time equitable and honorable solution
may be found for this age old controversy. The noble purposes of the
United Nations will not truly be achieved the large majority of
mankind ceases to suffer from poverty, hunger, ignorance, illiteracy,
unemployment, malnutrition, precarious living conditions, lack of
housing and many other hardships. If all human beings have a right to
happiness, material progress and intellectual, moral and spiritual
advancement, the main tasks of the United Nations must be to
strengthen international cooperation and to create the conditions
necessary to exercise those fundamental rights. My delegation
believes it essential to initiate global negotiations on cooperation
for development in the economic field, since everybody is aware that
it has not been possible to reduce the gap between developed
countries and developing nations. On the contrary, the economic and
monetary crisis has of late merely worsened those adverse effects on
the sensitive economies of developing nations. No effective solution
has been found for the problems of commodities, international debts,
balance of payments, protection of the purchasing power of developing
countries, trade and transactions, transfer of technology, increase
of actual available ,resources, and access to capital markets.
Although Guatemala believes that the United Nations is the most
appropriate forum for resolving questions affecting the future of all
the countries of the world, we admit that the Organization has not
always acted with the promptness and effectiveness needed to solve
the crises threatening world peace. This situation occurs because it
is difficult to strike an accurate and practical balance between
human rights, the interests of States and the principles and purposes
of the Charter. We have thus noted that the Security Council and the
General Assembly have not always made the same assessment of
situations that threatened international peace and security. The
Security Council itself has to some extent distorted its role by
using procedures of informal consultations among its members, instead
of concerning itself, as it ought to, with handling matters falling
directly within its jurisdiction and finding adequate solutions for
them. My country saw a good example of that when we submitted to that
body our petition opposing the admission of Belize to the United
Nations. The Security Council, in open violation of the principles of
the Charter, refused to be seized of the matter. It did so without
any reason, forgetting that there had been an open controversy to be
resolved within the principles of the Charter. It is necessary to
establish a solid basis of equity and justice for the development of
international relations. My delegation believes that we must return
to the sources that gave birth to this Organization. The light which
then shone at San Francisco, when the Organization was created,
should become a beacon for present and future generations; one which
will light our way and enable us to build a better and more balanced
world, one founded on the pillars of fraternity and solidarity, where
peace, social justice, freedom and dignity to which all human beings
without exception are entitled will prevail.