B3-0854, 0868 and 0911/93

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to its previous resolutions on the political situation in Guatemala, stating its unequivocal support for democracy, for the fight for human rights, for the negotiations seeking to achieve the peaceful reconciliation of all sides and for development cooperation,

B.mindful particularly of its resolution of 27 May 1993 on the coup in Guatemala, in which it condemned the anti-constitutional acts of former President Serrano Elias,

C.whereas it was unable to react immediately to subsequent events, there being no part-session at which it could do so,

1.Welcomes the democratic convictions demonstrated by the people and professional organizations of Guatemala, and by every sector of Guatemalan society;

2.Congratulates the new President of the Republic, Mr Ramiro de León Carpio, and wishes him a fruitful term of office in which Guatemala's democratic process will be consolidated and definitive progress made with regard to respect for human rights, for which the new President has fought so hard;

3.Acknowledges the role of the Constitutional Court (Corte de Constitucionalidad), which, in fulfilment of the law and its duties, declared the actions taken and the decrees promulgated by ex-President Serrano unconstitutional and, hence, null and void ex tunc; points out that this unequivocal and certain interpretation of the law has strengthened all strata of Guatemalan society in their rejection of the self-initiated coup d'état;

4.Acknowledges the role played by the army officers who chose to abide by the will of the people and displayed great discipline in obeying the decisions of the Constitutional Court;

5.Calls, therefore, on the new President to begin peace talks with the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (URNG) forthwith, with all civilian social movements participating, and hopes that the URNG will demonstrate flexibility and a constructive attitude, which may lead rapidly to a peace agreement; calls on the leaders of the URNG to declare a ceasefire and play a democratic part in the new epoch now dawning for the people of Guatemala;

6.Calls on the Commission to make a special effort to establish cooperation with Guatemala in a form which will provide maximum support for the consolidation of constitutional democracy;

7.Stresses that the integration of the Indian population into national life is of major importance to Guatemala's future;

8.Stresses that the solidarity and cooperation which exist at grassroots level and the work being carried out in this area by NGOs are also of major importance to Guatemala's future;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, to the President of the Government of Guatemala and the URNG.