Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA1642
2003-06-24 21:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR VIELMAN SAYS GOG IS PRESSING UN FOR

Tags:  PHUM PREL KJUS GT UN OAS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001642 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/USOAS AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL KJUS GT UN OAS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VIELMAN SAYS GOG IS PRESSING UN FOR
ACTION ON CICIACS


Classified By: Human Rights Officer Katharine Read, reasons 1.5 (B and
D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001642

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/USOAS AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL KJUS GT UN OAS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VIELMAN SAYS GOG IS PRESSING UN FOR
ACTION ON CICIACS


Classified By: Human Rights Officer Katharine Read, reasons 1.5 (B and
D)


1. (C) Summary: On June 23, Acting DCM and Human Rights
Officer met with Ambassador Maritza Ruiz de Vielman, Foreign
Minister Gutierrez's Special Advisor, to discuss the state of
play on the proposed mixed commission to investigate
clandestine groups (CICIACS),to commend GOG collaboration
with the NGO community on CICIACS, and to pledge continued
support for CICIACS's formation. Vielman said that a UN
technical team will be visiting Guatemala in the second week
of July to make an assessment for commission set-up, that FM
Gutierrez remains committed to CICIACS and to further
collaboration with the NGOs, and that she appreciated past
and future USG support. End Summary.


2. (C) On June 23, Acting DCM and Human Rights Officer met
with Ambassador Maritza Ruiz de Vielman, former Foreign
Minister and former negotiator for the GOG-UN agreements
establishing MINUGUA. Vielman was appointed by FM Gutierrez
to spearhead the GOG's efforts to establish CICIACS, and
visited New York in April to lobby the UN for early
participation in CICIACS. Vielman said that officials at the
UN agreed to send a technical team to Guatemala in late April
to assess details for setting up the commission. Vielman
noted that the technical team has since been delayed, and
that she recently heard from her sources at the UN that the
team is slotted to arrive in Guatemala the second week of
July.


3. (C) Acting DCM congratulated Vielman on establishing
credibility with the often skeptical and frequently
fragmented human rights NGO community. Vielman said that she
found the human rights leaders easy to work with now that
they are convinced of the GOG's commitment to CICIACS.
Vielman also said that, in her last meeting with the NGOs,
the GOG and the NGOs decided to draft joint letters to the UN
SYG thanking him in anticipation of the UN technical team's
visit in July.


4. (C) Vielman said the NGOs would continue to play a role in
CICIACS after the UN technical team's assessment by helping
to select the Guatemalan commissioner, and by informing the
debate on how to incorporate the Public Ministry into
CICIACS. Vielman also said the NGO community will inevitably
serve as a primary source of information and advice during
the CICIACS's investigative and conclusion-formulating
periods.


5. (C) When Acting DCM asked Vielman how the USG could
provide further assistance, she mentioned that the UN team
would want an international perspective during their visit
and asked if we could meet with them. Acting DCM assured her
that we could accommodate that request in addition to our
financial support.


6. (C) Comment: The long-awaited arrival of the UN
exploratory mission in July is a welcome sign that the
establishment of CICIACS will soon get underway. Vielman
reassured us that the GOG has the will and the know-how to
establish an international commission with UN and OAS
participation. The difficulties as Vielman laid them out
seem to be mitigating bureaucratic delays in the UN, OAS, and
GOG. We share a joint interest in seeing that CICIACS is
established before the November elections complicate domestic
atmospherics, and stand ready to assist any attempts to
expedite that process.

HAMILTON