Press Communiqué Issued Following the Geneva Meeting Presided over by the Secretary General between Representatives of the Government of El Salvador and of the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación nacional ('Geneva Agreement')

• Country/entity

  El Salvador
  
• Region

  Americas
  
• Agreement name

  Press Communiqué Issued Following the Geneva Meeting Presided over by the Secretary General between Representatives of the Government of El Salvador and of the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación nacional ('Geneva Agreement')
• Date

  4 Apr 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 Salvadort: Mr. Oscar SANTAMARÍA; Ambassador Guillermo PAZ LARIN; Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL; Ambassador Carlos Ernesto MENDOZA
  
  Representing the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberación Nacionalt: Commander Shafik RANDAL; Mr. Salvador SAMAYOA; Commander Ana Guadalupe MARTINEZ; Commander Roberto CANAS
• Third parties

  UN (signatory)
  
  In the capacity assigned to me by the United Nations Security Council in resolution 637 (1989)
  (Signed) Javier PEREZ DE CUELLAR
  Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Description

  Parties agree principles for peace negotiations

• Agreement document

  SV_900404_GenevaAgreement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

ANNEX

Geneva Agreement

(4 April 1991)

At the request of the Central American Presidents and within the framework of the mandate of good offices conferred on me by the Security Council under resolution 637 of 27 July 1989, I have held consultations with the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN) in order to agree on the format, mechanism and pace of a process aimed at bringing about as speedily as possible, under my auspices, a definitive end to the armed conflict in that country.

I have agreed to carry out this effort at the request of the Government and FMLN and because I have received assurances from both parties that there is a serious and good faith intention to seek to bring about such an end through negotiations.

As a result of my consultations, the Government and FMLN have agreed on the points set forth below, which are designed to ensure that the process is conducted in an efficient and serious manner and promotes mutual trust through appropriate guarantees.

I believe that in addition to their intrinsic importance, the scrupulous maintenance of these guarantees will demonstrate the desire and ability of the parties to carry out any commitments they make during the negotiations.

On this understanding, the Government and FMLN have pledged not to abandon the negotiating process.

1. The purpose of the process shall be to end the armed conflict by political means as speedily as possible, promote the democratization of the country, guarantee unrestricted respect for human rights and reunify Salvadorian society.

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.

Once that has been achieved, the process shall lead to the 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. The process shall be conducted undor the auspices of the Secretary-General, on a continuous and uninterrupted basis.

3. In order to ensure the success of the negotiating process, the Government and FMLN agree to an approach which shall involve two types of complementary activities:

direct dialogue between the negotiating commissions with the active participation of the Secretary-General or his Representative, and an intermediary role by the Secretary-General or his Representative between the parties to ensure that both the Government and FMLN are committed at the highest level, The Secretary-General shall seek to ensure that these activities are conducted in a manner that genuinely contributes to the success of the process.

The Government and FMLN shall ensure that their negotiating commissions have full powers to discuss and conclude agreements.

4. The Government and FMLN agree that the process shall be conducted in the strictest secrecy.

The only public information on its progress shall be that provided by the Secretary-General or his authorized Representative.

5. The Secretary-General» at his discretion, may maintain confidential contacts with Governments of States Members of the United Nations or groups thereof that can contribute to the success of the process through their advice and support.

6. The Government of El Salvador and FMLN agree that the political parties and other representative social organizations existing ia El Salvador have an important role to play in the attainment of peace.

They also recognize the need for both the Government and FMLN to maintain appropriate, ongoing information and consultation mechanisms with such parties and social organizations in the country, and that the latter must undertake to preserve the secrecy necessary to the success of the dialogue process.

When it is deemed appropriate and on the basis of mutual consent, the commissions may call upon representatives of these parties and organizations in order to receive their inputs.

7. The Government and FMLN likewise recognize that it is useful for the Secretary-General to maintain contacts with Salvadorian individuals and groups whose input may benefit his efforts.

Geneva, 4 April 1990

Representing the Government of El Salvadort

(Signed)

Mr. Oscar SANTAMARÍA

(Signed)

Ambassador Guillermo PAZ LARIN

(Signed)

Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL

(Signed)

Ambassador Carlos Ernesto MENDOZA

Representing the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberación Nacionalt

(Signed)

Commander Shafik RANDAL

(Signed)

Mr. Salvador SAMAYOA

(Signed)

Commander Ana Guadalupe MARTINEZ

(Signed)

Commander Roberto CANAS

In the capacity assigned to me by the United Nations Security Council in resolution 637 (1989)

(Signed) Javier PEREZ DE CUELLAR

Secretary-General of the United Nations