unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/12/89)
THE UNITED NATIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA: A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY
The following information has been prepared by the Executive
Media Service/Office of the Spokesman:
7 August 1987
The Presidents of the five Central American countries (Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) signed the
Guatemala Procedure, also known as Esquipulas II.
Among other things, the agreement expressed the will of the five
Governments to engage in a national dialogue and to put into
effect a general amnesty. They also envisaged the creation of a
National Reconciliation Commission in each one of the five
countries.
With regard to the ending of hostilities, providing, among other
things, for security arrangements barring support for irregular
forces or insurrectional movements, they requested the
Secretaries-General of the United Nations and Organization of
American States to establish the International Verification and
Follow-up Commission (in Spanish CIVS). In addition to both
Secretaries-General, the Foreign Ministers of the Contadora
Group, the Support Group and those of the five Central American
countries were members of CIVS.
16 January 1988
After receiving the final report of CIVS, the five Central
American Presidents signed the Alajuela Declaration which
ratified Esquipulas II in Alajuela (Costa Rica).
14 February 1989
In view of the lack of movement in implementing the Esquipulas
Agreement, the five Central American Presidents met in El
Salvador for the third summit, during which they signed the
Costa del Sol Declaration whereby they emphatically renewed
their will to comply with Esquipulas II.
Furthermore, the Government of Nicaragua announced its decision
to call general and free elections on 25 February 1990, and to
that end to reform the electoral laws and the laws governing the
media. They also announced their decision to invite the
Secretary-General to send observers that would verify the whole
electoral process in the entire national territory.
The Presidents also agreed to draw up within 90 days a joint plan
for the demobilization, repatriation and resettlement of the
Nicaraguan Resistance in Nicaragua or third countries. They
also asked the Secretary-General to proceed with arrangements to
set up a group for the verification of the security provisions
of Esquipulas II (ONUCA).
31 March 1989
In a note addressed to the Secretary-General, the five Ministers
of Foreign Affairs requested the setting up of a mechanism for
the verification of the security aspects of Esquipulas II
(ONUCA). This request contained a reservation by Honduras
related to a pending case between Honduras and Nicaragua in the
International Court of Justice. Because of this reservation,
the Secretary-General was unable to act on this request.
3 July 1989
After reviewing the reports produced by the preliminary missions
sent to Nicaragua in April and May 1989 in connection with the
Government request for verification of the electoral process,
the Secretary-General agreed to monitor the process, taking into
consideration that:
-- the request had the support of the five Central American
Presidents;
-- the General Assembly resolution 43/24 provided him with the
necessary elements to proceed in this respect;
-- the verification was to take place throughout the whole
process and in all electoral districts; and ...
-- the Nicaraguan elections were an element of the Central
American peace process as a whole.
To this effect, the Secretary-General signed with the Government
of Nicaragua the agreement implementing the verification
mission, known as ONUVEN
27 July 1989
The Security Council adopted resolution 637/1989 expressing
support for the Guatemala Agreement and the Joint Declarations,
calling upon the five Presidents to continue their efforts to
achieve a firm and lasting peace in the region and lending the
Council full support to the Secretary-General to continue his
mission of good offices in support of the Central American
Governments.
7 August 1989
In a summit meeting that took place in Tela (Honduras), the
Central American Presidents adopted three key documents (See
document A/44/4521, S/20778 of 9 August 1989). The three
documents are:
1. The Tela Declaration, which endorses and ratifies the
Esquipulas II Plan and the Alajuela and the Costa del Sol
Declarations.
2. The Joint Plan for the voluntary demobilization, repatriation
or relocation in Nicaragua or third countries of the members of
the Nicaraguan resistance and their families, as well as
assistance for the demobilization of all those involved in armed
actions in the countries of the region when they voluntarily
seek it. The Plan provides for the creation, by the United
Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS)
Secretaries-General, of an International Support and
Verification Commission (CIAV).
3. The Agreement between Honduras and Nicaragua, a bilateral
instrument whereby the Government of Nicaragua commits itself to
postpone and eventually to withdraw the application filed
against Honduras before the International Court of Justice once
conditions regarding implementation of the Joint Plan and
prevention of the use of the Honduran territory by irregular
forces have been met.
This agreement clears the way for the Secretary-General to send
a reconnaissance mission to the region in order to assist in
preparing a formal proposal to the Security Council for the
establishment of ONUCA.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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