Strasbourg, 11/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament expresses alarm at delays in implementing Guatemala's 1996 peace agreement and agrarian reform and calls on Guatemala's government to draw up and implement a national food security and rural development plan, hailing the Commission's cooperation in supporting such a policy. The MEPs are concerned at the current outbreak of violence in the country, condemning the recent assassinations of peasant leaders and calling on the government to put an end to impunity and unreservedly support the investigation into clandestine security units and groups. They are also concerned at the insecurity in which indigenous communities deprived of their land are forced to live and the discrimination suffered by indigenous women. The resolution highlights the need to stimulate national debate on reforming land ownership and farming, regretting the lack of power of Conditiera (a body set up to resolve farming disputes). The MEPs support the Commission's plans to provide economic cooperation in rural development and agrarian reform once Guatemala's government submits a plan drawn up with sections of civil society and once it shows that it will use the necessary domestic resources to implement the plan.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Frits Bolkestein said that at the advisory group on Guatemala would be meeting on 13/14 May the Commission would be calling on the Guatemalan government and people to step up their efforts to implement the peace plan, particularly in the field of the legal system and rural development. He said the Commission was prepared to assist in the electoral process that is about to be set up, as requested by Guatemala's electoral commission, sending a group to the country in May to assess the prospects of sending observers. Bolkestein said the Commission had earmarked EUR 93 million for cooperation with Guatemala in 2002 - 2006 that will focus on consolidating the rule of law and human rights, job creation and rural development based on involvement and fairer economic development.