In a new session of the Permanent Council of the OAS, which analyzed the institutional crisis in Guatemala, the countries adopted a declaration that applies one of the articles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter (EFE/OAS/Juan Manuel Herrera).
(Washington, United States) The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted this Tuesday a third resolution on the crisis in Guatemala, which deepens the application of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in the country to put pressure on the Central American country to stop what he described as “actions against the rule of law that threaten the democratic transition.”
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Guatemala's Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro sent a video rejecting the resolution being discussed by the countries and calling for a vote on the issue. The text was approved with 29 votes in favor and the only one against was that of Guatemala. and one abstention (that of El Salvador).
The text was presented by the United States government, which, through its ambassador Frank Mora, noted that the events in Guatemala were “alarming” because they threatened democracy.
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“The latest in a long list of measures taken by Guatemala’s Ministry of State are the He issued arrest warrants and attempted to remove humanity's immunity from the elected president. The absurd attempt to annul the already certified election results is an attempt to undermine the rule of law and reverse the will of the Guatemalan people. This is unacceptable,” Mora said.
The OAS had already implemented some articles of the Democratic Charter by establishing two missions. One to follow up on the presidential transition and one to mediate. In any case, it is the first time that the OAS has made it clear that it is applying part of the Charter in the country.
The text approved by the OAS invokes Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and calls on Guatemala to allow a visit by the President of the Permanent Council, Ronald Sanders, and the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, in order to carry out a “goodwill visit.” .” Businesses.”
Guatemala's President-elect Bernardo Arévalo visited the OAS in November and was received by Secretary General Luis Almagro (PHOTO: OAS)
Búcaro, while acknowledging that Guatemala had taken part in the negotiations for this declaration, said that his country would not accompany it, provided that there was no need to invoke Article 18 of the letter, since its government had already voluntarily given this invitation the President of the Permanent Council visited the country.
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Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter says so “When situations arise in a Member State which could affect the development of the democratic institutional political process or the legitimate exercise of power, The Secretary-General or the Permanent Council may, with the prior consent of the government concerned, order visits and other procedures to analyze the situation.”
The article also states that the Secretary-General will then submit a report to the Permanent Council, which can then “take decisions aimed at preserving and strengthening democratic institutions.”
The resolution also calls on the President of the Permanent Council to “initiate comprehensive consultations to determine the need to convene a consultation meeting of Foreign Ministers under the Charter of the Organization of American States.”
The text also “strongly condemns the continued abuse of power by the Ministry of State and other authorities in Guatemala.”. It notes that “such measures are contrary to the provisions of the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Convention on Human Rights and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.”
The OAS also notes “its serious concerns about the ongoing political persecution and legalization of the electoral and democratic transition processes by the Ministry of State and other authorities of Guatemala” and “calls on all institutions of the State of Guatemala to stop all intimidatory measures.” Respect the Integrity of election materials and defend democratic principles.”
In the video sent by its foreign minister, Guatemala responded that President Alejandro Giammattei remained committed to handing over power to Bernardo Arévalo on January 14. Búcaro questioned the need to appear before the OAS for the ninth time on this issue.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Mario Búcaro, noted that it is the ninth time since June that he has attended the Permanent Council of the OAS (Photo: OAS)
“Guatemala calls for prudence to avoid making hasty decisions assuming that there is a constitutional requirement that these declarations do not exist, rather than calling for unity. They also polarize the Guatemalan population and without a doubt they violate the principles we have today regarding respect for our sovereignty,” Búcaro said.
“Guatemala participated in the negotiations on this resolution. However, you cannot come with us because you are invoking Article 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, even though Guatemala has voluntarily invited you, Mr. President, and the Secretary General to visit my country and consistently review what is happening in the country today. ” he said. The Chancellor.
According to Búcaro, the government considers that “Article 18 quoted in this draft resolution is inadmissible.”
The Inter-American Democratic Charter provides for different levels of action by OAS countries when there is an institutional collapse or the risk of such. The one now applied under this resolution implies a “visit of good offices”.
According to Article 18, this applies conditionally when there are situations that “could” lead to institutional collapse.
However, the letter also has other established mechanisms in case this break actually occurs. Further articles come into force there, such as Articles 20 or 21, which enable the calling of an OAS General Assembly, which can exclude a country from the organization.
After the adoption of the resolution, the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, stated that in his position he fully supported the measures adopted by the countries and assured that what exists today is what exists in Guatemala It is a “deferred coup” or “attempted” coup carried out by the Ministry of State.
Almagro also explained that every time President Giammattei, like his Chancellor Búcaro, assures in the same session that the government will hand over power to Arévalo on January 14, “the public ministry does something that tries to delegitimize the entire political transition or to destroy it.” ”
The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, has visited Guatemala several times and participated in meetings on the transition between Bernardo Arévalo and Alejandro Giammattei (Europa Press/Fernando Chuy)
He said prosecutors' alleged investigation “absolutely lacks objectivity, legality and legitimacy.” Almagro assured that, contrary to what the ministry said, the Supreme Electoral Court of Guatemala, in charge of supervising the elections, reaffirmed that “the results are confirmed, official and unchangeable,” adding that if on March 14 January If power is not transferred to Arévalo, there will be a “collapse of the constitutional order.”
Finally, the President of the Permanent Council, the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, noted that “none of the countries are happy about having to adopt another resolution on Guatemala,” but added that this was necessary to “preserve “Democracy, the rule of law and the will of the people as expressed in the elections.”
“The number of votes was 29. This is a clear message to all parties in Guatemala about the expectations of this council to do the right thing,” Sanders added.