UN observers asked to verify Central American peace plan.

As envisaged by the Central American Presidents in their joint Declaration issued in El Salvador on 14 February 1989, the United Nations may provide military observers for the region as a key element for verification of the security commitments of the Agreement to establish peace in the region signed in Esquipulas, Guatemala, in August 1987.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on 8 February met with the Foreign Ministers of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua and the Vice-Foreign Minister of Guatemala to clarify procedures for verifying security arrangements reached under the Guatemala Agreement.

On 9 February, a UN spokesman said that new moves were planned to further the Guatemala Agreement. The Ministers had asked Mr. Perez de Cuellar to take steps towards establishing a mechanism under UN auspices, to verify compliance with security commitments under the Agreement. These commitments concern the cessation of aid to irregular forces and insurrectionist movements operating in the region, and the non-use of territories to support such groups.

In mid-March, Central American envoys and UN officials discussed a plan designed by a UN technical team, headed by Under-SecretaryGeneral for Special

Political Affairs Marrack Goulding. A UN spokesman indicated that, on the basis of a formal request by the Central American countries for the establishment of an observer force, the Secretary-General would send a reconnaissance mission to the region before submitting a formal proposal to...