United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51/198 A

Fifty-first session Agenda item 40

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 45/15 of 20 November 1990, 46/109 A of 17 December 1991, 47/118 of 18 December 1992, 48/161 of 20 December 1993 and 48/267 of 19 September 1994, in which it decided to establish the Mission for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala, and its resolutions 49/137 of 19 December 1994, 49/236 A of 31 March 1995, 49/236 B of 14 September 1995 and, in particular, 50/220 of 3 April 1996, in which it decided to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the Mission for a further period of nine months and thirteen days, that is, until 31 December 1996,

Taking into account the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the fifth report of the Director of the Mission,

Taking note of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the fifth report of the Director of the Mission, regarding compliance by the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca with their commitments under the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and the human rights aspects of the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples,

Acknowledging the support given to the Mission by the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca,

Welcoming the steps taken by the Government of Guatemala to combat impunity,

Also welcoming the de facto cessation of hostilities as a result of confidence-building measures taken by both parties,

Encouraged by the progress made in the peace process as reflected in the signing of the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian Situation and the signing of the Agreement on the Strengthening of Civilian Power and on the Role of the Armed Forces in a Democratic Society, as well as the announcement by the parties that the agreement on a firm and lasting peace will be signed on 29 December 1996 in Guatemala City,

Recalling the request of the parties that the United Nations should verify all the agreements signed by them as reflected in the Framework Agreement for the Resumption of the Negotiating Process between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca of 10 January 1994,

Acknowledging the efforts of the Secretary-General, the Group of Friends of the Guatemala peace process, the United Nations system and other international agencies in support of the peace process,

Having considered the recommendations of the Secretary-General regarding the renewal of the mandate of the Mission contained in his report on the Mission,

1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala;8

2. Takes note with satisfaction of the fifth report of the Director of the Mission;

3. Calls upon the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca to continue their efforts to comply with their commitments under the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights2 and the human rights aspects of the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

4. Encourages the parties to maintain the current momentum of the negotiating process in order to ensure that, as they have agreed, the agreement on a firm and lasting peace will be signed on 29 December 1996;

5. Decides to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the Mission until 31 March 1997, in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary- General;

6. Invites the international community to intensify its support for the peace process, and in particular for the implementation of the peace agreements, inter alia, through voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the Guatemala Peace Process established by the Secretary-General;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit recommendations as soon as possible on how the structure and staffing of the Mission should be redesigned to enable the Mission to fulfil its new responsibilities after the signing of the agreement on a firm and lasting peace, and to keep the General Assembly fully informed of the implementation of the present resolution.

87th plenary meeting

17 December 1996