OEA - Documento ACTAS-S C 363 26 de 2026

[image] OEA/Ser.G

CP/ACTA 2477/23

20 diciembre 2023

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

CELEBRADA EL 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2023

Transcripción corregida

Esta transcripción corregida se somete a la aprobación del Consejo Permanente. Una vez aprobada, constituirá la versión final del acta.

INDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión 1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día 2

Informe del Presidente del Consejo Permanente, Sir Ronald Sanders,

Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda 2

Informe del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos,

señor Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes 6

Palabras del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Guatemala,

Su Excelencia Señor Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores 7

Intervenciones de las delegaciones de los Estados Miembros 10

Palabras de reconocimiento a la Embajadora Rita Claverie Díaz de Sciolli 20

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2023

Palabras de reconocimiento a la Embajadora Rita Claverie Díaz de Sciolli 20

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2023

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez y treinta y cuatro de la mañana del miércoles 20 de diciembre de 2023, celebró sesión extraordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para recibir los informes de la visita oficial del Presidente del Consejo Permanente y el Secretario General a la República de Guatemala. Presidió la sesión el Embajador Sir Ronald Sanders, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda y Presidente del Consejo Permanente. La sesión contó con la participación del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Guatemala, Su Excelencia Señor Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México

Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica

Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas

Embajador Carlos Roberto Quesada López, Representante Permanente de Honduras

Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile

Embajador Luis Ernesto Vargas, Representante Permanente de Colombia

Embajador Francisco O. Mora, Representante Permanente de los Estados Unidos

Embajador Stuart Savage, Representante Permanente del Canadá

Embajador Tarlie Francis, Representante Permanente de Grenada

Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Permanente de El Salvador

Ministra María Cecilia Villagra, Representante Interina de la Argentina

Ministra Consejera Thais Mesquita Candia Pecoraro, Representante Interina del Brasil

Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda

Ministra María Cecilia Villagra, Representante Interina de la Argentina

Ministra Consejera Thais Mesquita Candia Pecoraro, Representante Interina del Brasil

Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda

Consejero Pierre Michel Bonnet, Representante Alterno de Haití

Consejero Mauricio Roberto Bernard Estrada, Representante Alterno de Guatemala

Primera Secretaria Shirnaya Valin Stephen, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía

Consejera Akeila Vanessa Samuel, Representante Alterna de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Ministro Marco Vicente Ponce Villacis, Representante Alterno del Ecuador

Ministra Consejera Christobelle Elaine Reece, Representante Alterna de Barbados

Primer Secretario Tommy Tataje, Representante Alterno del Perú

Embajadora María Fernanda Cortizo Frías, Representante Alterna de Panamá

Tercer Secretario Javier Gustavo Rodríguez Carballal, Representante Alterno del Uruguay

Consejera Venessa Ramhit-Ramroop, Representante Alterna de Trinidad y Tobago

Consejera Pamela Polanco Jorge, Representante Alterna de la República Dominicana

Primera Secretaria Claudia Andrea Escobar Rey, Representante Alterna del Paraguay

Primera Secretaria Chanel Vanessa Nahar, Representante Alterna de Suriname

Consejera Maysa Rossana Ureña Menacho, Representante Alterna de Bolivia

Consejera Keishanna Sullivan, Representante Alterna de Guyana

También estuvo presente el Secretario General de la Organización, señor Luis Almagro Lemes.

El PRESIDENTE: Good morning, colleagues.

Consejera Maysa Rossana Ureña Menacho, Representante Alterna de Bolivia

Consejera Keishanna Sullivan, Representante Alterna de Guyana

También estuvo presente el Secretario General de la Organización, señor Luis Almagro Lemes.

El PRESIDENTE: Good morning, colleagues.

I officially open this special meeting of the Permanent Council, which was convened in accordance with Article 14 of the Statutes of the Permanent Council and Article 37 of its Rules of Procedure, to present the reports on the official visit to Guatemala by the Chair of the Permanent Council and the Secretary General. This visit was made following the invitation extended by the President of the Republic of Guatemala, Mr. Alejandro Giammattei Falla, which was published as document CP/INF. 10054/23, and also in accordance with a request from the Permanent Council made in its resolution CP/RES. 1240 (2476/23) rev. 1.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

El PRESIDENTE: Colleagues, in accordance with Article 43 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council, we will proceed to adopt the [draft] order of business for this meeting, as contained in document CP/OD-2477/23.

[El proyecto del orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Informe del Presidente del Consejo Permanente, Sir Ronald Sanders, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda

3. Informe del Secretario General de la OEA, señor Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes

4. Palabras del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Guatemala, señor Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores

5. Intervenciones de las delegaciones de los Estados Miembros.]

And if there are no objections, I will consider that the agenda is approved.

I see no objection. Approved.

INFORME DEL PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE,

SIR RONALD SANDERS, REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE

DE ANTIGUA Y BARBUDA

And if there are no objections, I will consider that the agenda is approved.

I see no objection. Approved.

INFORME DEL PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE,

SIR RONALD SANDERS, REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE

DE ANTIGUA Y BARBUDA

El PRESIDENTE: Now we will proceed with item 2 of the agenda, which is titled: “Report by the Chair of the Permanent Council, Sir Ronald Sanders, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the Organization of American States (OAS).” With your agreement, I will proceed to deliver my report, asking your forgiveness in advance for its length, which given the sensitivity of the matter and the need for thoroughness was unavoidable.

Distinguished colleagues, I am pleased to present my report following a visit to Guatemala on December 15th and 16th, at the invitation of President Alejandro Giammattei, to participate in the leadership transition process along with the OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro.

The visit was also in furtherance of the request by this Permanent Council in its resolution CP/RES. 1240 (2476/23), of December 12th, 2023, that I, as Chair of the Permanent Council, and the OAS Secretary General, “request with urgency the consent of [the] Government of Guatemala to accept a mission of good offices by the Permanent Council as soon as possible, invoking Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”

In my meeting with President Giammattei, accompanied by the Secretary General and his team, the President informed me of the successful completion of the leadership transition process. Some members of his transition team were present at the meeting, and each of them participated in the dialogue. The President described the transition process as an historic achievement for Guatemala. He emphasized that transparency and cooperation had characterized the process, which culminated at a closing ceremony on December 6th, 2023, at which Secretary General Almagro was present.

President Giammattei was keen that this Permanent Council be advised that, notably, sixty-six files containing substantive government facts covering fifty-three institutions, were meticulously organized and delivered, and that additionally, forty-five folders were uploaded by the Government's Transition Committee through a QR code that was made available to the President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and his transition team.

He was adamant that the inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo and Karin Herrera as President and Vice President of Guatemala will take place on January 14th, 2024, as scheduled, and that invitations had already been conveyed to Heads of State and Government to attend the inauguration.

During the meeting that the Secretary General and I had with Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, she said that there are challenges in getting information from the Government side, but nonetheless the [Movimiento] Semilla party is preparing for the assumption of office. She advised that the [Movimiento] Semilla party has already chosen fourteen ministers, of whom eight are women, overcoming the challenge that many women are reluctant to enter political life because of fear.

However, she complained that the Public Prosecutor's Office continues to fabricate cases, trying to delegitimize the electoral vote and to prosecute persons, including two students who were arrested on Friday, December 15th.

For the [Permanent] Council's information, I point out that three days later, on December 18th, the Criminal Court declared that the cases which were brought against the two students had no merit and ordered the arrested students to be freed. This affair prompts questions about the motivation of those in control of the Public Prosecutor's Office, but it also speaks to the residual principle in the legal system that rights must be [respected]. Though to what extent that exists now [remains] to be seen.

On a positive side, [the Movimiento] Semilla's legal representative, Juan Guerrero, who was a member of the Vice President-elect's team on the day we saw her, advised that on Thursday, December 14th, the Constitutional Court had issued a decision safeguarding the election results, including [against] any effort by the Public Prosecutor's Office to jeopardize them. He also stated that a judge of the Ninth Pluripersonal Court [of First Criminal Instance] had issued a decision on December 15th, which obligates the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National [Civil] Police to respect the transfer of executive authority to the officials elected in the 2023 elections.

I will elaborate on this point later in this report, when I discuss the details of our meeting with representatives of the Constitutional Court.

However, another important matter was raised by the Vice President-elect and [the Movimiento] Semilla's legal representative. They both expressed concern over the human rights violations [against] activists, journalists, students, and other members of civil society, by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

In this connection, the legal representative stated that while the new Executive will respect the independence of the Judiciary, they regard Article 14 of the Public Prosecutor's Office Law to be unconstitutional because it vests unfettered power in the Attorney General without accountability, and also prohibits removal of the person holding that office except upon conviction for an intentional crime. They fear that if Article 14 is not declared unconstitutional, the Public Prosecutor's Office will continue its illegal acts. Consequently, in October 2023, they filed a case on this matter at the Constitutional Court and are now awaiting the Court's decision.

Colleagues, given the history of the arbitrary behavior of the Public Prosecutor's Office, this case is one to which the Permanent Council may need to pay close attention even after the transfer of executive power.

Secretary General Almagro and I also met President Héctor Hugo Pérez Aguilera and Judge Leyla Susana Lemus Arriaga of the Constitutional Court. We had a very candid session with them, in which constitutional and legal issues were carefully considered. The two senior judges expressed their concern over the labeling of the situation in Guatemala as a coup d’état; indeed, they took objection to it. They were clear that such labeling is inaccurate given that the country's institutions are operating and functioning properly.

The representatives of the Constitutional Court also stated that on October 31st, 2023, the competent body—the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE)—officially declared the electoral results final, and that, consequently, in their view—the view of the Constitutional Court—the results are “unalterable.” They were firm that the Constitutional Court has been very clear that there can be no legal tool or loophole that can be used to amend the TSE's officialization of the election results.

They pointed to their own decision issued on December 14th, 2023, in a document entitled: “Proceedings 6175-2023: Constitutional Court as an Extraordinary Court of Protection,” by which they published the following rulings:

1. The Constitutional Court establishes that, when an electoral process is in progress, a political party cannot be suspended.

2. The decision of a Criminal Judge cannot affect the electoral process.

3. The investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office cannot prevent the completion and results of the electoral process.

4. Demands that the Congress of the Republic and its directing board are obliged to guarantee that all elected persons take their positions in accordance with the certification of the results made official by the TSE.

5. Invites the Congress of the Republic to act in accordance with its function of preserving the democratic regime of the State and carry out all necessary acts to guarantee that the persons elected to the executive and legislative branches take office.

6. All authorities are warned that in accordance with their functions, they must comply with the last stage of the electoral process.

7. Any person who do not comply with the rulings will incur civil and criminal liabilities.

We also discussed with the Constitutional Court a case in which the Supreme Court of Justice ordered that the Congress set up an investigation committee into the TSE corruption, related to the purchase of a computer program for the transmission of preliminary results. As a result of the Supreme Court of Justice's order, one hundred and eight congresspersons voted to remove the immunities of the TSE magistrates.

The representatives of the Constitutional Court stated that their court cannot interfere in these investigations because it is not a constitutional matter; it is a case against persons [subject to] a criminal investigation which is outside their jurisdiction. They were steadfast in their position that they are the guardians of the Constitution, a role they carry out diligently. They stated robustly that there is “no constitutional breakdown in Guatemala,” and they wanted to be clear on that point. They also said that they fully expect that the transfer of executive power will assuredly take place on January 14th, 2024, given that anyone who tries to obstruct the process would be subject to criminal and civil liabilities.

Turning now to the Permanent Council's request that the Secretary General and the Chair of the Permanent Council, “request with urgency the consent of [the] Government of Guatemala to accept the mission of good offices by the Permanent Council as soon as possible, invoking Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,”, I advise that President Giammattei readily agreed to accept such a mission.

Foreign Minister, Mario Búcaro Flores, confirmed this agreement in writing—and his letter will be appended to this report—which shall be circulated to all delegations later today. In the letter, the Foreign Minister stated his government's agreement for a visit to Guatemala by “a group of ambassadors that can take place from January 12th to 14th, 2024, as agreed by both parties and in accordance with Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”

Additionally, I advise that President Giammattei expressed his wish to address the Permanent Council directly, on or about January 10th, 2024. The President underscored Guatemala's commitment to the OAS Charter and the principles of democracy that bind its member states. A formal request for him to address the [Permanent] Council on or about January 10th, 2024, will be submitted by the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the OAS.

In concluding this report, I wish to extend my thanks to President Giammattei for the invitation to visit Guatemala and for the valuable time that he dedicated to exchanging views with me and the Secretary General. I also express my appreciation to the Secretary General and his team for their support during this visit. I also thank most sincerely the Justices of the Constitutional Court for providing explanations and clarity on the complex legal system in Guatemala. I extend my gratitude to Vice President-elect Karin Herrera, and the [Movimiento] Semilla's legal representative, Juan Guerrero, for the fruitful exchanges we had with them.

Now, as I draw toward the conclusion of this report, I would like, if I may, to make a few observations.

First, this visit's success was enhanced by the cooperative effort between the two organs that are accountable to the General Assembly of the OAS; the two organs being this Permanent Council and the Secretary General.

Second, I [acknowledge] the admirable role of the Secretary General since August of this year in accompanying the transition process to help ensure its achievement.

Third, I am encouraged by the resolve expressed by the representatives of the Constitutional Court to ensure that there is no unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in Guatemala. Much responsibility for the nation's well-being falls on the judges of the Constitutional Court, who, in carrying out their responsibilities as protectors of the Constitution, should be given every support by this Organization.

And finally, I reiterate our collective and unwavering commitment to supporting the people of Guatemala through this transition period and, indeed even beyond it.

I thank you all for your attention.

That completes my report. And now I call on the Secretary General, Luis Almagro, to give his report.

Secretary General, you have the floor.

INFORME DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS,

SEÑOR LUIS LEONARDO ALMAGRO LEMES

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you, Chair.

Señor Presidente, su informe es mi informe también, y definitivamente coincidimos en cada uno de los términos allí expresados.

SEÑOR LUIS LEONARDO ALMAGRO LEMES

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you, Chair.

Señor Presidente, su informe es mi informe también, y definitivamente coincidimos en cada uno de los términos allí expresados.

También [expresamos] nuestro reconocimiento ante el Consejo Permanente por esta misión conjunta, el trabajo realizado por el señor Presidente del Consejo Permanente, la nueva dimensión jurídica y política que le dio a esta misión y la valoración especial que esta tiene en un contexto complejo de Guatemala.

Voy a agregar dos o tres conceptos nada más. Se ha evitado, hasta ahora, que las fuerzas que pretendían destruir el proceso de transición, tirarlo por el precipicio, no prevalecieran. Esto no es el fin del trabajo. Estas fuerzas de alguna manera continuarán, y continuarán luego del 14 de enero. El atentado frente a la casa de la Magistrada Leyla Lemus así lo demuestra.

El daño que ha hecho –o ha pretendido hacer– y que definitivamente quiere hacer el Ministerio Público al sistema judicial guatemalteco, al Estado de derecho en Guatemala, y a la propia democracia del país debe ser condenado y condenado siempre.

Hoy estamos más lejos de ese intento de golpe de Estado en suspenso al que hicimos referencia en la última reunión. La justicia ha prevalecido con las decisiones de la Corte de Constitucionalidad y de la orden del Juzgado Noveno Pluripersonal de Primera Instancia Penal del 15 de diciembre de 2023, que otorgó amparos al proceso político y civil en Guatemala, en la que ordena al Ministerio Público preservar la institucionalidad, defender el régimen democrático, contribuir a la seguridad, la justicia y la paz, y garantizar el principio de alternancia en el poder.

Incluso [se ordenó] al Director de la Policía Nacional Civil a que tome todas las acciones necesarias, hasta el máximo de sus recursos, con la debida diligencia para que se garantice el principio de alternabilidad en el ejercicio del poder, se evite cualquier acción que atente contra el principio de alternabilidad en el ejercicio del poder, asumiendo las acciones que sean necesarias, y que preste toda colaboración en forma diligente para la realización de la transición de las autoridades electas, que tendrán verificativo a partir del 14 de enero del año 2024.

La Corte de Constitucionalidad velará por que el 14 de enero se proceda a la transición como debe ser, de acuerdo a derecho. Y la Organización de los Estados Americanos, este Consejo Permanente y la Secretaría General definitivamente harán lo mismo.

Gracias, señor Presidente.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much, Secretary General.

PALABRAS DEL MINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES

DE LA REPÚBLICA DE GUATEMALA,

SU EXCELENCIA SEÑOR MARIO ADOLFO BÚCARO FLORES

El PRESIDENTE: I would now like to offer the floor to the distinguished Foreign Minister of Guatemala, Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, who has once again joined us here in the Permanent Council.

Minister, the floor is yours.

El MINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES DE LA REPÚBLICA DE GUATEMALA: Thank you so much, Chair.

Minister, the floor is yours.

El MINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES DE LA REPÚBLICA DE GUATEMALA: Thank you so much, Chair.

Excelentísimo señor Presidente, señor Secretario General, Excelentísimos señores representantes permanentes y delegados alternos, Excelencias, a veinticinco días de que se celebre la transmisión de mando presidencial al doctor César Bernardo Arévalo de León y a la doctora Karin Herrera Aguilar para el período de gobierno 2024-2028, participo ante ustedes por décima vez en una sesión de este Consejo Permanente para ratificar el compromiso del Estado de Guatemala con los valores democráticos consagrados en la Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala y en la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA).

Tomamos nota de los informes que han sido presentados por parte del señor Presidente del Consejo Permanente y el señor Secretario General, con motivo de su reciente visita a Guatemala los días 15 y 16 de diciembre, por invitación del Presidente Constitucional de la República, doctor Alejandro Giammattei Falla, como una muestra más de su compromiso con el fortalecimiento de la democracia y la alternancia del poder.

Al concluir mi misión como Canciller de la República de Guatemala, es propicio hacer una reflexión sobre el camino que hemos recorrido y compartido juntos, a la luz de los próximos procesos electorales que se celebrarán en esta región, a efectos de que la democracia y el multilateralismo prevalezcan frente a la multipolaridad, en medio de un mundo lleno de desafíos y retos comunes.

Durante los últimos meses, el Gobierno de Guatemala, de manera voluntaria, solicitó la veeduría de la OEA para atestiguar cómo los guatemaltecos, mediante nuestro sistema jurídico, hemos resuelto situaciones potencialmente conflictivas, demostrando que las circunstancias más complejas pueden ser resueltas mediante el estricto cumplimiento de la ley, el diálogo y la voluntad nacional.

Guatemala, frente a sus retos internos, decidió adoptar un enfoque transparente ante la comunidad internacional, compartiendo constantemente acciones que han impulsado el garantizar a todos los guatemaltecos la paz, la alternancia del poder y el estricto respeto al Estado de derecho.

Fue con acciones que Guatemala demostró ser un país comprometido con el sistema interamericano, mediante el uso de mecanismos existentes y la promoción de iniciativas adicionales a la misión de observación electoral tradicional. Junto con la Secretaría de la OEA, conformamos una Misión de Acompañamiento y Observación del Proceso de Transición [de Gobierno 2023-2024], una Misión de Mediación [en Guatemala] para prevenir la escalada de los conflictos internos y una visita del Presidente del Consejo Permanente a nuestro país acompañado por el Secretario General; hechos inéditos en la historia de esta Organización dentro de un proceso electoral y poselectoral en el Hemisferio.

Continuando con esta apertura, deseo confirmar la disposición del Presidente Constitucional de la República de invitar a una delegación de embajadores de este Consejo [Permanente] a que nos acompañen, del 12 al 14 de enero del año 2024, para presenciar el proceso de transmisión de mando, de conformidad con el artículo 18 de la Carta Democrática Interamericana.

Sus Excelencias, hoy más que nunca el mundo nos necesita unidos como región para enfrentar los asuntos que demandan una atención urgente, como lo son el cambio climático, la lucha contra el narcotráfico, el abordaje de la migración y la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, entre otros. No podemos cometer el mismo error de prejuzgar y hablar de temas internos de cada país y descuidar la atención que merecen urgentemente los problemas hemisféricos que ponen en riesgo el futuro de nuestras generaciones.

Les invito a que a partir de hoy tengamos una mayor capacidad de diálogo, de búsqueda de verdaderos consensos y de soluciones bajo el principio de responsabilidades comunes pero diferenciadas, para alcanzar la integración hemisférica que todos necesitamos.

Señor Presidente, en consonancia con los objetivos para los cuales fue creada esta Organización, hemos puesto a prueba nuestro compromiso con la Carta Democrática Interamericana. A pesar de los señalamientos basados en presunciones, comunicados infundados e informes rendidos a este Consejo [Permanente], Guatemala no claudicó en su lucha por defender su democracia, su soberanía y su identidad nacional. Invitamos a otros Estados a hacer lo mismo cuando enfrenten una situación similar.

Distinguidos representantes, Guatemala es un país soberano, independiente y orgulloso de sus instituciones democráticas, las cuales son perfectibles pero eficaces, como lo demostró la Corte de Constitucionalidad el pasado 14 de diciembre del año 2023, al emitir la sentencia de amparo definitivo que garantiza la efectiva toma de posesión de todo funcionario electo en el proceso electoral 2023, conforme a los resultados avalados por el Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) y previniendo que toda autoridad actúe en cumplimiento de la última etapa del proceso electoral.

También les comparto que el TSE refrendó el pasado 15 de diciembre que los resultados del proceso electoral son válidos, oficializados e inalterables.

Señor Presidente, termino mi reflexión reiterando nuestro compromiso como un Estado Miembro fundador de la OEA, promotor de los cuatro pilares de esta Organización, que ha demostrado a lo largo de su historia, con sus vastas contribuciones, lo grande que es nuestra nación. Y que el pueblo de las Américas tenga por seguro que Guatemala siempre creerá en la democracia y que, aunque piensen muchas veces que no hemos estado juntos unidos, por el contrario, hoy el Hemisferio necesita unirse para poder generar un nuevo liderazgo que cambie el destino de la humanidad en tiempos conflictivos.

Muchísimas gracias.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much, Minister.

I will open the floor in one minute to all delegations that may wish to speak to this meeting this morning.

But first, Minister Búcaro, I would like, if I may, to address a few words to you, Sir. In saying that, we have seen you as part of this [Permanent] Council on so many occasions. You mentioned ten times on matters related to Guatemala, but the truth is you have been here for many other things. In fact, I think you have been the most consistent Foreign Minister in attending meetings of this Permanent Council, which is an indication to me, and I think to all of us, of the regard you personally have for the Organization of American States (OAS). And I want you to know that we all deeply appreciate the fact that you have done so, and we thank you for it.

This is probably the last time that we will have the opportunity as a [Permanent] Council to share your company, so may I say, Sir, that we know that you too will move on, and we wish you very well; we wish you every luck and good fortune in all that you do in the future, fortified by the knowledge that you are such an expert diplomat that there is nothing that you can put your hand to at which you will fail […[[1]](#footnote-1)/].

I did not have the microphone on, I am sorry. I do not know if anybody heard a word of what I just said. But be assured that I said some words to the Foreign Minister, and I regret that they were not on the microphone.

INTERVENCIONES DE LAS DELEGACIONES DE LOS ESTADOS MIEMBROS

El PRESIDENTE: In any event, I now open the floor to any and all delegations that may wish to speak; the floor is yours.

I gather that we might all have Christmas holidays in mind. [Risas.]

The United States, you have the floor.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS: Thank you very much, Chair.

Colleagues, the United States very much welcomes the reports presented toda