Ceremony in El Salvador marks formal end to 12-year conflict; 'from armed peace into a new era....' (Central America)

Following delays and revisions to the timetable for implementing the 16 January 1992 peace agreement between the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN), a ceremony was held in San Salvador on 15 December to mark the formal end to the 12-year armed conflict in El Salvador. A ceasefire has prevailed in that country since 1 February 1992.

Attending the ceremony in San Salvador on the "momentous occasion", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said that after almost a year without armed combat, the country had crossed the line "from armed peace into a new era".

He indicated that problems with the reintegration of FMLN members into the civil, institutional and political life of El Salvador were being overcome, as were difficulties arising from the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Commission on the Purification of the Armed Forces.

Reunification: not yet

The goal of reunifying Salvadorian society, the Secretary-General continued, was still not within reach. It was quite possible, he stated, that the watershed in the process of reuniting Salvadorian society would come only when the report of the Commission on the Truth--established to investigate serious acts of violence committed during the conflict--became available.

The UN was trying to help ensure that the causes of the conflict did not recur, but the primary responsibility lay with the Salvadorians, he said. On 30 November, in Security Council resolution 791 (1992), the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) was further extended for six months, until 31 May 1993.

Calm and caution needed

In October 1992, the Secretary-General had reported (S/24688) that delays had been experienced in implementing several aspects of the peace accords, including the transfer of land to former combatants on both sides, the establishment of a new National Civil Police and demobilization of the FMLN. As of 19 October, only 40 per cent of FMLN combatants had returned to civilian life.

On 23 October, the Secretary-General proposed a set of adjustments to the timetable of the peace agreement, according to which cessation of the armed conflict would be completed on 15 December. He observed that with the peace process entering an especially delicate phase, it would be imperative that both parties act with caution and restraint, until and for an extended period after 15 December, "so that national reconciliation may become a reality".

Unanimously adopting resolution 784 (1992) on 30 October, the Council had further extended ONUSAL's mandate for another month and asked the Secretary-General to make recommendations as to the mandate and strength the Mission would need to verify implementation of the final phases of the peace process.

On 28 October, the Secretary-General noted that the Government had begun the transfer of lands to ex-combatants of the FMLN, and that the FMLN was beginning the demobilization of one third of its remaining combatants.

In an 11 November letter (S/24805) to the Security Council President, the Secretary-General reported progress in implementing the adjusted timetable for the peace process. The FMLN was to provide ONUSAL with a final inventory of weapons and begin their destruction on 1 December.

He added: "Contingent upon my confirmation that these actions have been duly completed, the Government would promptly resume the dissolution of military units as previously agreed."

Call for cooperation

On 30 November, by resolution 791, both parties were called on to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General's Special Representative and ONUSAL in verifying compliance with the peace agreement.

ONUSAL's mandate, originally envisioned as verifying the agreements signed by the El Salvador Government and the FMLN between 4 April 1990 and 16 January 1992, had expanded because of difficulties in executing those accords, the Secretary-General reported on 23 November (S/24833).

Despite the problems, however, implementation of the peace process had advanced steadily. The impeccable observance of the cease-fire and FMLN's engagement in political activities in advance of its full legalization as a party were an impressive demonstration of the will of both parties to consolidate peace. The Secretary-General anticipated that ONUSAL would complete its mission by mid-1994.

The Secretary-General on 1 December confirmed that he had received a letter from Salvadorian President Alfredo Cristiani on the administrative decisions taken to implement the Purification Commission's recommendations.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali informed the Government on 7 December that the detailed inventory of weapons presented the previous week by the FMLN to ONUSAL had been found "satisfactory" That inventory, together with the fact that the destruction of the weapons it had listed had already begun, were important steps towards completing the peace process.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development on 9 December announced plans for the first major UN development project for El Salvador since the end of the country's civil war. The project, aimed at rebuilding the society and promoting peace, would help former government soldiers and guerrillas alike. To be carried out over six years, the $40-million project would help restore agriculture to Chalantenango province, one of the most warravaged areas in El Salvador.

Assembly action

The Assembly on 18 December commended the efforts made by Central American countries to achieve peace, through the implementation of the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America", signed at Guatemala City on 7 August 1987, as well as of agreements adopted at subsequent summit meetings.

It welcomed the creation of a new Central American security model, based on: coordination, communication and prevention; confidence-building between regional States; and progress made on security, verification, control and limitation of arms and military personnel.

The Assembly also urged "scrupulous implementation" of the commitments set forth in the 1991 Mexico City Agreement between the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca, in order to achieve national reconciliation and a firm and lasting peace and supported efforts by the Nicaraguan Government to consolidate peace.

Caputo goes to Haiti

The Secretary-General on 11 December appointed Dante Caputo of Argentina as his Special Envoy for Haiti. Mr. Caputo, a former President of the General Assembly, met on 20 and 21 December in Port-au-Prince with, among others, the head of the de facto government, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and members of human rights organizations. Before leaving for Haiti, he had met with President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Washington.

On 22 December, Mr. Caputo reported to the Secretary-General that there had been a positive evaluation of the possibilities of carrying out some effective action to restore democracy to Haiti.

His mission was undertaken within the framework of Assembly resolution 47/20 of 24 November which asked the Secretary-General to take measures in order to assist, in cooperation with the Organization of American States, in the solution of the Haitian crisis.

In a 3 November report (A/47/599), the Secretary-General cited reports of a pattern of "gross and widespread human rights abuses" one year after the coup d'etat in Haiti that overthrew democratically-elected President Aristide. Also, the country's economy was in a state of "free fall", with tens of thousands of jobs having been cut in the industrial and service sectors. Reduction in family purchasing power had caused the food situation, already precarious, to deteriorate further since October 1991.