General Agenda and Timetable for the Comprehensive Negotiating Process, Caracas

  • Country/entity
    El Salvador
  • Region
    Americas
  • Agreement name
    General Agenda and Timetable for the Comprehensive Negotiating Process, Caracas
  • Date
    21 May 1990
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( El Salvador Civil War (1979 - 1992) )
  • Stage
    Pre-negotiation/process
  • Conflict nature
    Government
  • Peace process
    El Salvador peace process
  • Parties
    Representing the Government of El Salvador: (Signed) Colonel Juan A. MARTINEZ VARELA; (Signed) Mr. Oscar Alfredo SANTAMARIA; (Signed) Colonel Mauricio Ernesto VARGAS; (Signed) Mr. Abelardo TORRES; (Signed) Mr. David ESCOBAR GALINDO; (Signed) Mr. Rafael HERNAN CONTRERAS;

    Representing the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional:​ (Signed) Commander Schafik HANDAL; (Signed) Commander Eduardo SANCHO;(Signed) Ana Guadelupe MARTINEZ; (Signed) Salvador SAMAYOA; (Signed) Dagoberto GUTIERREZ; (Signed) Marta VALLADARES; (Signed) Roberto CANAS;
  • Third parties
    (Signed) Alvaro de SOTO, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
  • Description
    Initial objective to achieve political agreements for halt to armed confrontation and any acts that infringe rights of civilians, including agreement on armed forces; human rights; judicial system; electoral system; constitutional reform; economic and social issues; and verification by the UN. Agenda also to include establishment of necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating members of the FMLN into civilian institutional and political life, and agreements for the consolidation of the objectives of earlier Geneva Agreement. Agreed on schedule and set deadline for achievement of initial paragraph 1 of the Geneva Agreement, for middle of September. Agreed agenda for future negotiations to halt armed confrontation and achieve political agreements; agreement on topics to all into first, second and third phase of negotiations, respectively


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)

    No specific mention.

  • Elections
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (4) Electoral System

    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    4. Electoral system

    Page 3, B. TIMETABLE
    ... This deadline would offer the additional advantage of helping to ensure that a legislative and municipal electoral process is conducted in an atmosphere of tranquillity, broad participation and freedom from intimidation.
  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution
    Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (5) Constitutional Reform

    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    5. Constitutional reform

    Page 3, III. Final agreements for the consolidation of the objectives of the Geneva Agreement and verification, where appropriate, by the United Nations.
    Note: The sequence of the items listed for each phase does not imply a strict order of consideration and may be changed by mutual consent.
    Agreements must be tailored to the nature of the phase involved. Political issues have been placed in their respective phases but, given the complexity of some of them, aspects thereof may be addressed in other phases. All this depends on the dynamic of the negotiations.

Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    ... (2) Human Rights
    (b) Second: Cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population
  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation

    No specific mention.

  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (3) Judicial System

    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    3. Judicial system
  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (6) Economic and social issues

    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    6. Economic and social issues
  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation

    No specific mention.

  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage

    No specific mention.

  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (1) Armed forces

    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    2. Human Rights
  • DDR
    Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    1. Armed forces
    7. Reintegration of FMLN members
  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

    No specific mention.

  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory
    (Signed) Alvaro de SOTO, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar
    Page 2, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.
    (a) First: Political agreements
    (7) Verification by the United Nations

    Page 2-3, A. GENERAL AGENDA
    II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.
    8. Verification by the United Nations
  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    United States Institute of Peace (2001) Peace Agreements: El Salvador - Peace Agreements Digital Collection. Available at: https://www.usip.org/publications/2001/04/peace-agreements-el-salvador (Accessed 14 October 2020).

ANNEX

General agenda and timetable for the comprehensive negotiating process

A. GENERAL AGENDA

I. The initial objective shall be to reach political agreements which lay the basis for a cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population, which will have to be verified by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the Security Council.

(a) First:

Political agreements

Armed forces

Human rights

Judicial system

Electoral system

Constitutional reform

Economic and social issues

Verification by the United Nations

(b) Second:

Cessation of the armed conflict and of any acts that infringe the rights of the civilian population

II. Establishment of the necessary guarantees and conditions for reintegrating the members of FMLN, within a framework of full legality, into the civil, institutional and political life of the country.

Armed forces

Human rights

Judicial system

Electoral system

Constitutional reform

Economic and social issues

Reintegration of FMLN members

Verification by the United Nations

III. Final agreements for the consolidation of the objectives of the Geneva Agreement and verification, where appropriate, by the United Nations.

Note:

The sequence of the items listed for each phase does not imply a strict order of consideration and may be changed by mutual consent.

Agreements must be tailored to the nature of the phase involved.

Political issues have been placed in their respective phases but, given the complexity of some of them, aspects thereof may be addressed in other phases.

All this depends on the dynamic of the negotiations.

B. TIMETABLE

In the light of the general agenda for the comprehensive negotiating process set forth in the preceding section, the Government of El Salvador and FMLN agree that the initial objective set forth in paragraph 1 of the Geneva Agreement of 4 April 1990 should be achieved by the middle of September 1990, provided that agreements are reached which are synchronized, have implementation timetables and can be verified where appropriate, so as to ensure that all the components of the initial objective are duly coordinated.

This deadline would offer the additional advantage of helping to ensure that a legislative and municipal electoral process is conducted in an atmosphere of tranquillity, broad participation and freedom from intimidation.

It is difficult to set a fixed date for the conclusion of the comprehensive process.

This will depend on factors that cannot be weighed at the present time, such as the extent and scope of the political agreements reched under paragraph I, which are a matter of negotiation, and the relationship between the negotiations and the electoral process.

There is also a possibility that the initial objective may be achieved before the deadline.

For these reasons, the conclusion of the process should be envisaged not in terms of dates but rather in terms of a given number of months after the achievement of the initial objective:

tentatively, two to six months.

On the basis of the above understandings, the Government and FMLN shall, as their first substantive priority, concentrate on negotiating the political agreements envisaged under the initial objective.

Representing the Government of El Salvador:

(Signed)

Colonel Juan A. MARTINEZ VARELA

(Signed)

Mr. Oscar Alfredo SANTAMARIA

(Signed)

Colonel Mauricio Ernesto VARGAS

(Signed)

Mr. Abelardo TORRES

(Signed)

Mr. David ESCOBAR GALINDO

(Signed)

Mr. Rafael HERNAN CONTRERAS

Representing the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional:​

(Signed)

Commander Schafik HANDAL

(Signed)

Commander Eduardo SANCHO

(Signed)

Ana Guadelupe MARTINEZ

(Signed)

Salvador SAMAYOA

(Signed)

Dagoberto GUTIERREZ

(Signed)

Marta VALLADARES

(Signed)

Roberto CANAS

(Signed) Alvaro de SOTO

Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations