Ambassador Francisco O. Mora, representing the United States, joined fellow ambassadors to discuss the Organization of American States (OAS) declaration concerning Guatemala. During the meeting, Ambassador Mora expressed gratitude to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the General Secretariat for their updates on Guatemala's situation. He also thanked Chile for organizing the meeting alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, and his own government.
Mora acknowledged Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro's participation in the discussions. He emphasized the importance of supporting democracy in Guatemala as its citizens continue their democratic efforts. "We again urge the Government of Guatemala to uphold its commitments under the Inter-American Democratic Charter and work toward a smooth and orderly transition of power in January of next year," he stated.
The ambassador congratulated Bernardo Arévalo on his election as Guatemala's next president following vote certification on August 28. He commended Guatemalans for their electoral participation and praised officials and volunteers who facilitated the elections, including those from the OAS Electoral Observation Mission.
Despite these acknowledgments, Mora expressed concern over actions undermining democracy in Guatemala. "Such anti-democratic behavior...undercuts the clear will of the Guatemalan people," he noted, highlighting attempts by certain actors to suspend Arévalo’s political party.
Mora reaffirmed U.S.-Guatemala ties based on shared values such as democracy and human rights. He called for collective action among OAS member states to uphold democratic principles across the Americas. The ambassador stressed that ongoing engagement with Guatemala is crucial until President-elect Arévalo assumes office in January 2024.
In conclusion, Mora expressed pride in co-sponsoring today's adopted Declaration which supports an orderly power transition in Guatemala. The Declaration urges all state institutions to respect civil and political rights consistent with domestic law and international commitments.
"We are very proud to have co-sponsored the Declaration adopted today," Mora concluded, emphasizing future collaboration with Guatemala’s incoming leadership to bolster U.S.-Guatemalan relations and regional democracy.