Guatemala City conference: nearly 2 million Central Americans to get refugee aid.

• Position: International Conference on Central American Refugees

Guatemala City Conference

A three-year programme to aid nearly 2 million Central American refugees, displaced persons and returnees was unanimously adopted by the 56 Governments attending the International Conference on Central American Refugees (Guatemala City, 29-31 May).

In an accompanying Declaration, participating States recognized that solutions to the refugee problem were an integral part of the effort for peace, democracy and development in the region.

The "Concerted Plan of Action" links aid to affected populations to the region's economic and social development objectives.

Each of the seven countries directly involved in the plan of action-Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua--presented at the Conference their own national projects to deal with the populations in distress. Preliminary estimates put the total cost at $380 million.

The Conference, which was also attended by representatives from 61 intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, was organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in co-operation with the Governments of the seven countries and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Plan of Action

The Plan of Action commits countries to stress voluntary repatriation in conditions of security and dignity, nondiscrimination for those having sought asylum, and free choice of destination in their countries for refugees, as well as freedom of movement and free choice of place of residence under the same conditions as other nationals of their countries.

National efforts under the Plan would guarantee access of returnees to means of subsistence and to land under the same conditions as other nationals of their countries and respect for their cultural and ethnic values.

All parties involved in the repatriation process agreed to respect the humanitarian and nonpolitical character of international assistance in favour of voluntary repatriation. Countries also agreed to continue to respect the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in favour of returnees and his ability to have access to them.

They...