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


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

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society
    Page 3,
    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.
  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


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,
    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.
  • 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
    Page 2,
    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.
  • 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

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • 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

    No specific mention.

  • DDR
    Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
    Page 2,
    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.
  • 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
    Page 2,
    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.

Implementation

  • UN signatory
    Signed by UN Secretary General.
  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar
    Page 2,
    2. The process shall be conducted undor the auspices of the Secretary-General, on a continuous and uninterrupted basis.

    Page 2,
    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.
  • Enforcement mechanism
    Intermediary role for UNSG.
  • 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

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