Monday, November 2, 2009
Joint Statement by Presidents of Mexico and Guatemala
Presidency of the Republic
In response to an invitation by Mr. Álvaro Colom, President of Guatemala, Mexican President
Felípe Calderón paid a state visit to Guatemala on October 26 and 27, 2009, accompanied by a top level delegation, during
which they issued the following:
Joint Statement
1. The Presidents agreed that the constructive political dialogue established
between Guatemala and Mexico at the highest level and in various government spheres constitutes clear proof of the top-priority
and strategic relationship forged between the two nations over the years. They also hailed the excellent state of bilateral
relations, characterized by joint work, cooperation and solidarity.
2. The Presidents repeated that the reduction of poverty, inequalities and
all forms of discrimination and social exclusion are objectives of their respective governments and pledged to continue working
to strengthen their social security systems, which will permit the development of better conditions for their countries. They
also repeated their commitment to respecting human rights and social justice, essential elements in reinforcing governance
and democracy.
3. The two leaders highlighted the efforts of their governments to promote
the integral social development of their countries, through various programs which, as in the case of Guatemala, are promoted
by the Council of Social Cohesion, and confirmed their willingness to continue working in this sphere for the benefit of their
most vulnerable populations.
4. President Colom thanked the people and government of Mexico for the solidarity
shown during the internal armed conflict, when it received thousands of Guatemalans as refugees in that country. In recognition
of this, he awarded the Order of the Quetzal in the Grand Cross grade. President Calderón expressed his thanks for the high
honor given to Mexico.
Integral Border Development
1. The two Presidents hailed the inauguration, during this State Visit,
of the Mexican El Ceibo border port and the Lagunitas-El Ceibo highway, as well as the laying of the first stone on the Guatemalan
border and agreed on the strategic importance this border crossing has for the integral development of tourism, since it provides
a land connection for the important cultural and natural heritage sites Guatemala and Mexico share in this region. The Presidents
confirmed the tourist vocation of the border port, which will permit trade with light cargo in vehicles of not more than 15.5
gross tons. President Colom thanked Mexico for its cooperation with Guatemala in the construction and donation of the Lagunitas-El
Ceibo stretch of highway, measuring 19.4 km, which cost approximately US$14.5 million.
2. The Presidents hailed the importance of converting the common border
into a space of opportunities, development and cooperation, and in this respect they hailed the project for the Integral Plan
of Border Infrastructure between Guatemala and Mexico, proposed by the Supervision of the Guatemalan Tax Administration Offices
(SAT) and the Institute of Administration and Evaluation of National Assets of Mexico (INDAABIN), to the Binational Commission.
This project is designed to plan uniform infrastructure at each border port, with a fifty-year horizon, guaranteeing a service
of quality and efficiency that will permit swift, documented, orderly, safe migration, better fiscal and customs controls
and complementary services.
3. Los Presidents
hailed the inauguration, during this State Visit, of the infrastructure of the Guatemala-Mexico interconnection and the start
of the pre-operative phase of the electric systems in the Central American region, undertaken by the Los Brillantes Electrical
Substation, located in the Province of Retalhuleu. They stressed that the work permitting the interconnection consists of
a 103 km long transmission line, 71 in Guatemalan territory and 32 in Mexican territory, at a tension of 400Kv, with an initial
link-up capacity of 200 MW in the direction of Mexico to Guatemala and 70 MW in the direction of Guatemala to Mexico.
4. The Presidents confirmed their support of the projects undertaken as
part of Project Mesoamerica (PM) including interconnection for communications between Guatemala and Mexico, the Mesoamerican
Network of Research and Development in Biofuels, the Mesoamerican Procedure for the International Transport of Merchandise
(TIM), and the Mesoamerican Public Health System.
5. President Colom told President Calderón that his government will build
the highway infrastructure project called Franja Transversal del Norte, which will be 329.5 km in length and cross the north
of the provinces of Huehuetenango, Quiché, Alta Verapaz and Izabal and link Mexico to Central America from the border ports
of Gracias a Dios-Carmen Xhán and from Ingenieros-Nuevo Orizaba. In this respect, the Presidents instructed the SAT (Guatemala)
and INDAABIN (Mexico) to build uniform customs complexes in keeping with the Border Plan of Infrastructure at these border
crossings that will permit the swift, safe crossing of persons and merchandise. The function of these crossing points will
be determined by the environmental impact studies drawn up by the corresponding authorities in both countries.
Coping with the Migratory Phenomenon
1. The Presidents hailed the excellent results yielded by the Border Workers’
Migratory Form (FMTF) since its implementation in March 2008. Since then, over 35,000 forms have been issued that have provided
protection and benefited an equal number of Guatemalan workers and their families. The Mexican President hailed the quality
of Guatemalan labor and its contribution to the Mexican economy and stressed that Guatemalan workers in Mexico have all the
rights recognized by Mexican legislation and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migratory
Workers and their Families. President Colom expressed the interest Guatemalan authorities have in seeing the places in Mexico
where Guatemalan workers provide services in order to be able to provide the consular assistance and protection stipulated
in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
2. Acknowledging the friendship between Guatemala and Mexico, President
Calderón informed President Colom that he has instructed the National Migration Institute to expand the Local Visitor's Migratory
Form (FMVL) during 2010 so that all Guatemalans, regardless of the province they live in, will be entitled to it. With the
FMVL, Guatemalans will be able to enter the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche and Quintana Roo without the need for either
a passport or a Mexican visa.
3. Both Presidents hailed the importance of the migratory flows and the
promotion of mechanisms regarding the migrant populations’ human rights, regardless of their migratory status or legal
condition. President Colom said that Guatemala has been promoting a Central American effort to influence the migratory reform
of the United States to ensure that it is integral and thereby meets the needs and interests of migrants in a realistic, balanced
fashion. For his part, President Calderón referred to the vision and actions of Mexico in this field, with full respect for
the laws and sovereignty of the United States. The two presidents hailed the political will of President Barack Obama to carry
out legislative reforms on migratory issues in an integral fashion.
4. The Presidents hailed the recent signing of the three-year addendum to
the Memorandum of Understanding for the Repatriation of Central American Nationals by land from Mexico, and the approval of
the respective Procedures Manual. The two Presidents agreed to continue joint efforts to fight drug trafficking, organized
crime, people smuggling and trafficking, money laundering and arms dealing, which not only affect the security but also the
development and well-being of states and their countries. The President of Guatemala congratulated President Calderón’s
government and the people of Mexico on their ceaseless fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime. The
Mexican President hailed the sovereign decision of the Government of Guatemala to ask the United Nations to expand the mandate
of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) until September 2011, and confirmed his willingness
to explore various ways of supporting this Commission. President Colom hailed the proposal put forward by Mexico for the signing
of the Framework Agreement of Cooperation between the respective authorities of the Government of Guatemala and the Public
Security Secretariat of Mexico for the Exchange of Information on Public Security in which he expressed interest, and said
that the corresponding authorities would carry out the respective analysis for signing this instrument. The two Presidents
agreed to increase their efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking and expressed their support of the work of the Fourth
Biennial Meeting to review the application of the United Nations Action Program to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit
Trafficking of Small and Light Arms in All Respects, which will be presided over by Mexico in July of 2010.
5. The Presidents of Mexico and Guatemala pledged to continue working together
to combat transnational organized crime, not only at the bilateral level but by reinforcing the SICA-Mexico Dialogue on Democratic
Security, reflected in the activities of the Central America-Mexico Working Plan for the 2009-2010 Biennial. The Presidents
discussed the progress and outlook for the Presidential Day against Organized Crime, in which Colombia and Panama also participate,
particularly with regards to speeding up and improving the exchange of information by using all technological tools available.
President Colom proposed celebrating the 2nd Presidential Day in Guatemala on February 26, 2010.
Trade and Investments
1. Both Heads of State repeated that economic integration is the path towards
increasing the competitiveness of the countries in the region and therefore hailed the start of the negotiating process for
achieving convergence between the Free Trade Agreements between Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and
Mexico. They also confirmed their commitment to ensuring that this effort would be completed in 2010, and that the new instrument
would enter into effect in 2012. They recognized the importance of lending continuity to the process to achieve the objectives
of the Plan of Action agreed on.
2. The Presidents acknowledged the fact that streamlining customs procedures
constitutes a key factor in increasing trade relations between both nations, as a result of which they agreed that the Under-Commission
of Economic Issues of the Bilateral Commission, with the participation of private players from the trade sector, should draw
up a program which, using state of the art technology for the application of procedures, paperwork, in-line services sent
between the two countries and all the elements concerning the export and import of merchandise, should make them as quick
and inexpensive as possible. This program should include the signing of an agreement between the Head Office of Tax Administration
of Guatemala and the Tax Administration Service of Mexico to boost action to combat smuggling and the evasion of customs duties,
particularly in the areas of greatest risk along the common border.
3. The Presidents hailed the benefits of investment in both economies, particularly
with respect to job creation, and they agreed that their authorities would exchange information on investment projects and
investment to promote them among the business communities of both countries.
4. The Presidents declared that there is an enormous potential for the development
of new businesses in trade and investment between Guatemala and Mexico, and they urged their respective economic promotion
agencies to urge trade to reach the level required for countries sharing a common border. They also stressed the importance
of developing border infrastructure works to achieve this aim.
5. The Mexican President said that in order to facilitate economic integration
between Guatemala and Mexico, his country had published a modification to the phytosanitary norm NOM-FITO, which will permit
international trade in plantain merchandise.
6. President Colom invited President Calderón to participate in the World
Coffee Conference, to be held in Guatemala in February 2010, when the heads of state of the world's main coffee producing
countries will meet.
Tourism
1. The Presidents instructed their respective authorities to promote the
formalization of the Agreement to Facilitate Aerial Operations in the Mayan World Region between the governments of Mexico,
El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, negotiated and signed by aeronautical authorities in August 2007.
2. The Guatemalan President talked to the Mexican President about the Cuatro
Balam Project in the north of the province of Petén, in an extensive zone covering the Maya Biosphere Reserve, where over
two thousand archaeological sites are located. President Colom expressed the importance of adopting the necessary measures
for preserving this area in the heart of which stands the El Mirador Archaeological Site, whose La Danta pyramid is the largest
in the world as to volume. The project seeks the integral development of tourism in the region. President Calderón congratulated
President Colom on this important initiative and highlighted the proximity of the Calakmul archaeological site, which will
enable efforts to be combined for its protection and sustainable development.
Regional and Multilateral Issues
1. They also highlighted their commitment to the Rio Group and agreed that
the process of reinforcing the Río Group will contribute to the expansion of regional capacities in solving and dealing with
the challenges faced by the region. They also stressed their governments' desire, within the Rio Group framework, to promote
reflections on specific issues that will enhance dialogue on aspects of common interest to countries in the region and combine
efforts to ensure the success of the 21st Rio Group Summit, to be held in Mexico in 2010.
2. The Heads of State confirmed their commitment to the consolidation of
the Latin American Pacific Rim Forum, and therefore instructed their respective Foreign Ministers and Ministers of the Economy
to continue promoting actions that will result in growing integration between participating countries and those belonging
to the Pacific Asian Basin. The Guatemalan President hailed the Mexican government’s decision to hold the 5th Ministerial
Meeting of the Pacific Rim in Oaxaca, on November 23 and 24 of this year.
3. The Guatemalan President hailed Mexico’s offer to host the 16th
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Commission on Climate Change in 2010.
4. President Calderón repeated the Mexican Government's support of Guatemala's
candidacy as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council for the period from 2012-2013.
5. The Presidents expressed their respect for democratic values and constitutional
order in countries of the region, in addition to the fact that they support all actions designed to prevent and deal with
situations that might alter democratic life, the rule of law, and the peace and development of their nations. In this respect,
the Presidents confirmed their support of the measures carried out by the Organization of American States (OEA) in Honduras,
and hoped that this country will encourage political dialogue to achieve a negotiated solution that will permit a return to
constitutional order.
Other issues
1. The Presidents of Guatemala and Mexico, aware of the cooperation and
solidarity that should exist between the two countries, announced the signing of the following agreements during this state
visit:
· Agreement between Guatemala and Mexico on the Mutual Recognition of Diplomas, Degrees and Academic Degrees at the Primary,
Secondary, and High School Levels or their equivalents.
· Cooperation Agreement between Guatemala and Mexico regarding Institutional Reinforcement and Incorporation of Principle
of Gender Equality into Public Policies in favor of Women.
· Memorandum of Understanding between the Executive Secretary of the Commission for Transparency and Fighting Corruption
of Guatemala, and the Federal Institute of Access to Public Information of Mexico, with the Support of the United Nations
Development Program in Guatemala.
· Memorandum of Understanding between Guatemala and Mexico on Technical Cooperation regarding Housing.
2. President Álvaro Colom thanked President Felipe Calderón for the solidarity
of the people and government of Mexico in the form of a donation of seven thousand food parcels to mitigate the effects of
the food crisis affecting the country that mainly affects the population living in a situation of poverty and extreme poverty.
The Guatemalan President highlighted and valued this supportive gesture of the people and government of Mexico which, despite
the havoc caused by the A/H1N1 flu crisis and the severe impact of the world economic crisis, did not hesitate to support
the Guatemalan people.
3. At the end of the state visit, on behalf of his committee, the Mexican
president thanked the President of Guatemala, his people and government for their hospitality during his stay in the country.
Issued in Guatemala City on October 26, 2009 by the Presidents of Mexico and Guatemala.
——————————
Press Release: Presidency of the Republic, October 27, 2009, Mexico City; translation Presidency of the Republic
