Larger role for UN in Central America urged; presidents ask for demobilization of irregular forces.

• Position: Includes related articles on Nicaragua, and the United Nations Observer Group in Central America

Presidents ask for demobilization of irregular forces

The United Nations has been asked to play a larger role in the Central America peace process. The request was made by the region's five Presidents at a summit meeting in San Isidro de Coronado, Costa Rica (10-12 December).

The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua want the mandate of the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) expanded to give it direct responsibility for demobilizing irregular forces in the region.

They also want ONUCA to prevent the supply of weapons both to the Nicaraguan resistance and to the Frente Farabundo Marti por la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) in El Salvador, and to verify any cease-fires.

ONUCA was established by the Security Council on 7 November 1989, strictly as an observer mission. Its mandate: to verify the cessation of aid to irregular forces and the non-use of the territory of one State for attacks on other States. Any change in that mandate must be approved by the Council.

In a Declaration (A/44/872S/21019) adopted at the end of their three-day summit, the Presidents also asked UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar to speed up full deployment and functioning of ONUCA, take steps to reinitiate the dialogue between the Government of El Salvador and the FMLN, and involve States with interests in the region more directly in the peace efforts.

The International Support and Verification Commission (CIAV) was asked "to proceed at once" with the demobilization of the FMLN. All funds for the Nicaraguan resistance, the Declaration stated, should be immediately turned over to CIAV. The Commission was jointly established on 6 September 1989 by the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS).

"Initiation of the demobilization of the Nicaraguan resistance and the FMLN is a key factor in overcoming the crisis besetting the peace process", the Presidents stated.

The Nicaraguan Government should make at once "the necessary contacts with ONUCA and CIAV so that the demobilization of the Nicaraguan resistance forces in Honduras may begin as of the signing of this agreement", they added.

The Presidents strongly supported El Salvador President Alfredo Cristiani in his efforts to find a peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict in his country.

They reiterated their appeal to the FMLN to cease hostilities, resume the dialogue with the Government and "publicly renounce any type of violent action that may...