Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA836
2003-03-31 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

GUATEMALAN COUNTERPROPOSAL FOR ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

Tags:  PREL MOPS MARR KTIA GT KICC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 GUATEMALA 000836 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/B, L, T, P, D, IO, S/WCI, S/P, CWG/PM,
PM/AT, WHA, OSD/ISP/NP LOOK AND DOD/OGC ALLEN

E.O. 12958: DCL: 03/29/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR KTIA GT KICC
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN COUNTERPROPOSAL FOR ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

REF: STATE 39114

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert E. Copley for reason 15. (b).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 GUATEMALA 000836

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/B, L, T, P, D, IO, S/WCI, S/P, CWG/PM,
PM/AT, WHA, OSD/ISP/NP LOOK AND DOD/OGC ALLEN

E.O. 12958: DCL: 03/29/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR KTIA GT KICC
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN COUNTERPROPOSAL FOR ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

REF: STATE 39114

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert E. Copley for reason 15. (b).


1. (U) This is an action request: see paragraph 3.


2. (C) Summary: The Guatemalan MFA has proposed
an Article 98 Agreement that contains three
additions to the modified text in reftel. The
additions consist of making reference to UNSCR
1422 (the one-year exemption from the ICC for
UN Peacekeepers),adding a requirement for each
party to investigate and prosecute its own
officials, and providing that the parties may
cooperate with and provide evidence in
investigations conducted by international
tribunals, even against individuals protected
from extradition by the agreement. Our
unofficial English translation of the
counterproposal is at paragraph 4. The
Guatemalan proposal in Spanish is at paragraph

5. End Summary.


3. (C) Action Request: Post requests
Department's review of the three additions
proposed by Guatemala and an official U.S.
response.


4. (C) Begin unofficial English translation:
Agreement between the Government of the United
States of America and the Government of
Guatemala regarding the Surrender of Persons to
International Tribunals

The Government of the United States of America and the
Government of Guatemala, hereinafter "the Parties,"

Reaffirming the importance of bringing to justice those who
commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,

Considering that the Parties have each expressed their
intention to, where appropriate, investigate and prosecute
war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide alleged to
have been committed by their respective officials,
employees, military personnel, and nationals,

Taking into account Resolution 1422 (2002) issued on July
12, 2002, by the Security Council of the United Nations,

Hereby agree as follows:


1. For purposes of this agreement, "persons" are current or
former Government officials, employees (including
contractors),or military personnel or nationals of one
Party.


2. Persons of one Party present in the territory of the
other shall not, absent the expressed consent of the first
Party,

(a) be surrendered or transferred by any means to any
international tribunal for any purpose, unless such tribunal
is established by the UN Security Council, or

(b) be surrendered or transferred by any means to any other
entity or third country, or expelled to a third country, for
the purpose of surrender to or transfer to any international
tribunal, unless such tribunal has been established by the
UN Security Council.


3. Both Parties commit to investigate and, to prosecute, if
appropriate, those presumed responsible, in the exercise of
the internal jurisdiction of each of the Parties.


4. Nothing established in this Agreement will impede the
Parties from collaborating in an investigation by any
international tribunal or from providing such evidence as
may be in its power, even if these were solicited within a
process initiated against one of the "persons" referred to
in this agreement.


5. When the United States extradites, surrenders, or
otherwise transfers a person of the other Party to a third
country, the United States will not agree to the surrender
or transfer of that person by the third country to any
international tribunal, unless such tribunal is established
by the UN Security Council absent the express consent of the
Government of Guatemala.


6. When the Government of Guatemala extradites, surrenders,
or otherwise transfers a person of the United States of
America to a third country, the Government of Guatemala will
not agree to the surrender or transfer of that person by the
third country to any international tribunal, unless such
tribunal is authorized or established by the UN Security
Council, absent the express consent of the Government of the
United States.

7. Each Party agrees, subject to its international legal
obligations, not to knowingly facilitate, consent to, or
cooperate with efforts by any third party or country to
effect the extradition, surrender, or transfer of a person
of the other Party to any international tribunal, unless
such tribunal has been authorized or established by the UN
Security Council.

This Agreement shall enter into force upon an exchange of
notes confirming that each Party has completed the necessary
domestic legal requirements to bring the Agreement into
force. The present Agreement will remain in force until one
year after the date on which one Party notifies the other of
its intent to terminate this Agreement. The provisions of
this Agreement shall continue to apply with respect to any
act occurring, or any allegation arising, before the
effective date of termination.



Done at ( ) on the ( ) day of ( ),2003.



FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GUATEMALA

End Unofficial English Translation.


5. (C) Begin Original Spanish text: ACUERDO ENTRE EL
GOBIERNO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA Y EL GOBIERNO DE
LA REPUBLICA DE GUATEMALA RESPECTO A LA ENTREGA DE PERSONAS
A LOS TRIBUNALES INTERNACIONALES


El Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de America y el Gobierno
de la Republica de Guatemala, en lo sucesivo "las Partes",

Reafirmando la importancia de enjuiciar a los culpables de
genocidio, delitos de lesa humanidad y crimenes de guerra,

Considerando que cada una de las Partes ha expresado su
intencion de investigar y enjuiciar, cuando sea oportuno,
los crimenes de guerra, delitos de lesa humanidad, y
genocidio supuestamente cometidos por sus funcionarios,
empleados, personal militar u otros nacionales respectivos,

Tomando en cuenta, la Resolucion 1422 (2002) emitida el 12
de julio de 2002 por el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones
Unidas,

Por el presente, acuerdan lo siguiente:


1. A los efectos del presente acuerdo, por "personas", se
entiende los funcionarios publicos, empleados (incluidos los
contratistas),el personal militar o los nacionales de una
Parte, actuales o antiguos,


2. Las personas de una Parte presentes en el territorio de
la otra no seran, salvo con el consentimiento expreso de la
primera Parte,

a) entregadas ni trasladadas por ningun medio a ningun
tribunal internacional, para ningun proposito, a menos que
tal corte sea establecida por el Consejo de Seguridad de la
ONU, ni

b) entregadas ni trasladadas por ningun medio a ninguna
entidad ni a un tercer pais, ni expulsadas a un tercer pais
con el proposito de entregarlas o trasladarlas a ningun
tribunal internacional, a menos que tal corte haya sido
establecida por el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU.


3. Ambas Partes se comprometen a investigar y, si ha lugar
a la formacion de causa, enjuiciar a los presuntos
responsables, en ejercicio de la jurisdicion interna de cada
una de las Partes.


4. Nada de lo establecido en el Acuerdo impedira que las
Partes colaboren en la investigacion que realice cualquier
tribunal internacional o que proporcionen las evidencias que
se hallaren en su poder, aun si estas fueren solicitadas
dentro de un proceso iniciado en contra de alguna de las
personas a que se refiere el presente Acuerdo.

5. Cuando los Estados Unidos extradite, entregue o, de otra
forma, traslade a una persona de la otra Parte a un tercer
pais, los Estados Unidos no convendra en que el tercer pais
la entregue o traslade a ningun tribunal internacional, a
menos que tal corte sea establecida por el Consejo de
Seguridad de la ONU, salvo con el consentimiento expreso del
Gobierno de Guatemala.

6. Cuando el Gobierno de Guatemala extradite, entregue o,
de otra forma, traslade a una persona de los Estados Unidos
de America a un tercer pais, el Gobierno de Guatemala no
convendra en entregarla ni trasladarla a ningun tribunal
internacional, a menos que tal Corte sea autorizada o
establecida por el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU, salvo con
el consentimiento expreso de Gobierno de los Estados Unidos.


7. De acuerdo a sus obligaciones juridicas internacionales,
cada Parte conviene en que, a sabiendas, no facilitar las
gestiones de ningun tercer pais o Parte, ni consentir o
cooperar respecto a las mismas para que se extradite,
entregue o traslade a una persona de la otra Parte a ningun
tribunal internacional, a menos que tal corte haya sido
autorizado o establecido por el Consejo de Seguridad de la
ONU.

El presente acuerdo entrara en vigor mediante un canje de
notas que confirmen que cada Parte ha cumplido con los
requisitos legales nacionales necesarios para su entrada en
vigor. El presente acuerdo permanecera vigente hasta un ano
despues de la fecha en que una de las Partes notifique a la
otra su intencion de derogarlo. Las disposiciones del
presente acuerdo seguiran en vigor con respecto a todo acto
que ocurra, o toda queja que surja, antes de la fecha de
vigencia de la derogacion.

Hecho en ____ el dia ____de 2003.




Por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de America

Por el Gobierno de la Republica de Guatemala

End Original Spanish Text.