United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala : report of the Secretary-General

States that the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) is preparing to close in Dec. 2004 after 10 years' presence in Guatemala and that this is the 9th and final report of the Secretary-General on implementation of the Guatemalan peace agreements. Reviews the efforts of the Mission during the final year: i) in a 2-year phase-down of operations; ii) in carrying out a transition strategy designed to build national capacity to promote the goals of the peace agreements; and iii) in reinforcing the peace agenda in the emerging policies of the new authorities who took office in Jan. 2004. Summarizes political developments in Guatemala and progress in consolidating the peace and building the better society during the period since the last report of 11 Aug. 2003 (A/58/267). A more detailed description of the Mission's closure and transition efforts will be provided later in the year in the end-of-Mission report. DAA

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