US embassy cable - 05GUATEMALA1404

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, IO/SHA, AND DRL/MLA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, EAID, GT, UN 
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN CONGRESS APPROVES OHCHR RESIDENT OFFICE 
 
REF: A. 2004 GUATEMALA 3288 
 
     B. 2004 GUATEMALA 3161 
 
1.  Guatemala's Congress unanimously approved legislation May 
31 to establish a resident office of the U.N. Office of the 
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).  The resident 
office is expected to start operations at the beginning of 
July, providing technical and training assistance to 
Guatemalan authorities and reporting to OHCHR headquarters in 
Geneva on human rights developments in Guatemala.  The OHCHR 
resident office is expected to build upon the work of the 
U.N. Verification Mission to Guatemala, which completed its 
mandate and formally closed its doors at the end of calendar 
year 2004. 
 
2.  Comment:  Guatemala has a standing invitation to all 
rapporteurs of the UNCHR.  The establishment of the OHCHR 
office is yet another signal of the GOG's openness to the 
international community, even on the sensitive issue of human 
rights.  With this step, President Berger and Vice President 
Stein demonstrate their commitment to the protection of human 
rights and their willingness to expend effort and political 
capital to do so, having negotiated compromises to resolve 
the constitutional and political objections discussed refs 
(A) and (B). 
HAMILTON