'Encouraging progress' reported in peace process: Mission mandate extended by Assembly.

• Position: Mission for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala, United Nations General Assembly

The General Assembly on 31 M-arch renewed for a "further period of six months" the mandate of the Mission for the Verification of Human Rights and of Compliance with the Commitments of the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala (MINUGUA). In adopting resolution 49/236, the Assembly also called upon the parties--the Government and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG)--to follow the recommendations of the Mission and comply fully with their commitments under the 29 March 1994 Comprehensive Agreement.

The Assembly stressed the importance of broad support for and cooperation with the Mission, set up on 19 September 1994, and in particular with respect to the security of its members.

The international community was asked to increase support for institution-building and cooperation projects intended to strengthen the human rights protection system in Guatemala, particularly through voluntary contributions to the trust fund for the Guatemalan peace process being established by the Secretary-General.

In stressing the importance of the early conclusion of the agreement on "a firm and lasting peace" in the country. the Assembly urged the parties to "make good on their commitment to give new momentum to the negotiating process".

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 2 April, during a visit to Guatemala, noted "encouraging progress" in the peace process. He said the first four months of MINUGUA, which was playing a "vital monitoring role", had gone well.

On 31 March in Mexico City, the parties had signed an agreement on identity and rights of indigenous people, he noted. "The vision which Guatemalans have cherished for years--the vision of a society united in lasting peace--is slowly becoming a reality", Mr. Boutros-Ghali observed.

"As the efforts of Guatemalans for national reconciliation continue. those efforts will continue to be backed by the international community with the United Nations as its...