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U.S. Department of State 93/06/03 Statement before OAS Meeting on Guatemala, Washington Office of the Spokesman Statement by Secretary of State Warren Christopher before the Organization of American States (OAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Guatemala Washington, DC June 3, 1993. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Secretary, fellow Foreign Ministers, and friends: First, Mr. President, I want to congratulate you on your election as President of this meeting. I also want to give great credit to our Secretary General and the other distinguished members of the mission who traveled to Guatemala. They expressed our unswerving commitment, the commitment of this organization to the restoration of democracy, and I know that we are all grateful to them for doing so. The events of this past week teach an important lesson for our hemisphere. When democracy is at risk, we must rush to its defense immediately and strongly. When we do, and when the people of the nation affected rush to its defense as well, the defenders of democracy prevail. The prompt, unequivocal, and effective condemnation by the nations of the Western Hemisphere is a strong warning signal for the future to those in the region who might seek to derail democracy. President Serrano's actions of May 25 did not stand. They met a firm response from the people of Guatemala and from the entire inter-American community. The United States and other nations suspended bilateral assistance and placed trade relations under review; the OAS quickly called for the meeting of Foreign Ministers that we are holding today; the Presidents of Central America convened an emergency meeting in San Salvador. The people and the institutions of Guatemala spanning the political spectrum rallied to the defense of their hard-won democracy. Now President Serrano himself has left office. Many questions remain, but we hope that Guatemala is on the path to restoring constitutional democracy. These events would not have been possible if the inter-American community, through the OAS, had not taken an historic, unanimous decision in Santiago in June of 1991 to come collectively to democracy's defense--whenever and wherever it is threatened in our hemisphere. Still, Mr. President, it is premature to claim victory. Events continue to unfold in Guatemala. Let there be no doubt about the resolve of the United States and the inter-American community. There must be a full and immediate restoration of constitutional democracy and basic human rights. Unless and until democracy is fully restored, Guatemala will find itself isolated. Hence, we must remain vigilant and engaged. For the United States, there is nothing we wish to see more than the immediate restoration of constitutional democracy through legal, peaceful, and constitutional processes. Until that occurs, Mr. President, our aid will remain suspended--and we will weigh suspension of trade preferences under the GSP system as well as the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Our organization must remain vigilant and engaged. We urge the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights to ask the new Guatemalan authorities for authority to travel to Guatemala immediately to monitor and review the progress made in protecting human rights and restoring constitutional guarantees. The Unit for the Promotion of Democracy should also offer its cooperation. We urge, Mr. Chairman, that the Secretary General continue to monitor Guatemala's rapid return to democracy, to return there himself, as has been proposed by Mexican Foreign Secretary Solana, and to inform the General Assembly on progress to date when it convenes next week in Nicaragua. We urge as well that once constitutional democracy has been restored, the new Guatemalan Government should make its first priority the renewal and revitalization of the peace process. There is no step that will strengthen democracy more than negotiating an end to Guatemala's 33 years of conflict. The time has come in Guatemala not just for a return of constitutional rule, but also for the establishment of peace. We urge the Secretary General, in consultation with the Presidents of Central America and Friends of the Peace Process, to offer their good offices to the Guatemalan parties. Their objective should be to assist and promote a rapid and successful conclusion of the peace process. There was a chance for progress in the last round that unfortunately was not seized upon by the URNG. The parties to the process will bear a heavy responsibility before the Guatemalan people and before history if they squander this new opportunity for peace. If peace comes to Guatemala, then all of Central America can unite in working to fulfill the possibilities for expanding development and trade, strengthening democratic institutions, regional arms reduction, the return of refugees, and attention to the problems of poverty. The OAS must renew our debate about how to strengthen the instruments available to defend democracy. We must recognize that after elections are held and power is transferred peacefully in this hemisphere, the struggle to consolidate and institutionalize democracy has only just begun. Basic institutions, like the judiciary, legislatures, law enforcement, and human rights, must be strengthened and professionalized. The armed forces must function under strict and unchallenged civilian authority. New threats to democracy, from corruption to narco-trafficking, must be met and overcome. Mr. President, we are reminded that an extensive and complex agenda is before us. Let us seize from the developments which have prompted this meeting an opportunity to redouble hemispheric efforts to confront the broad range of problems. Let us use this opportunity to consolidate democracy. Thank you very much, Mr. President. (###)