Agreement For Peace And Development Signed, Opens The Future At San Mateo Ixtatán

HUEHUETENANGO, Guatemala, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With happiness and responsibility, the Dialogue and Negotiation Table informs the national and international public that the Agreement for Peace and Development in San Mateo Ixtatán was signed on November 8, 2018 (7 Q'anil according to the Mayan calendar) in Huehuetenango City.

After about a year of preparation and nine months of negotiation, delegates of the Government of the Republic; Mayor and Municipal Corporation; the plural representations of 23 Comunidades of the north of the area; Trece Democracia, Consenso y Desarrollo and the Energía y Renovación Company; Consorcio por la Paz, el Desarrollo y la Cultura as Moderator of the process; the Bishop of Huehuetenango, Monsignor Álvaro Ramazzini as Observer, reached a far-reaching agreement, of an integral nature, aimed at recovering the governance of San Mateo Ixtatán, ensuring the permanent presence of the central government and creating conditions for inclusive development, with cultural identity, environmental sustainability and a scope of more than ten years.

At the signing of this Agreement, the auxiliary mayors of the communities of San Mateo Ixtatán, as well as the representatives of the genuine indigenous authorities of the Board of Directors of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán, joined in the capacity of Witnesses of Honor; Indigenous Municipality of Sololá; Indigenous Authorities of Nebaj and San Pedro Jocopilas, Quiché; indigenous authorities of San Sebastián Coatán, Jacaltenango and Barillas, Huehuetenango, whose signature strengthens the legitimacy of the agreements reached and provides the recognition of the true ancestral authorities.

In addition to the presence of special guests such as the Apostolic Nuncio of Pope Francis, the Ambassador of Germany, trade union leaders and the national and international press, the event was attended by three hundred representatives, women and men, from the different microregions of the municipality of San Mateo Ixtatán. Once again, an invitation was invited to violent groups acting outside the law, to join the effort of peace and development of the municipality that this Agreement initiates, and to benefit from the results achieved in education, health, environment, security, access to justice, agriculture, entrepreneurship, among others.

The negotiation process has concluded, but this represents only the beginning of a new stage of work to achieve full and increasing compliance with the commitments acquired by all the Parties.

IN SAN MATEO IXTATÁN, THE FUTURE HAS ALREADY BEGUN

SOURCE Mesa de Diálogo por el Desarrollo y la Paz de San Mateo Ixtatán