SPAIN REITERATES ITS SUPPORT FOR CICIG

Guatemala, February 8, 2012. Today, at the offices of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Ambassador of Spain, Manuel María Lejarreta Lobo, announced the donation of one million euros to the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala. This announcement came a day after President Otto Pérez Molina informed of his plans to request a two-year extension of the CICIG mandate.

Ambassador Lejarreta considered the donation to be a reflection of Spain's commitment to Guatemala, "in this case, in the field of security, justice and the fight against impunity". He also added: "The threats to security and justice and the appalling, tragic repercussions of widespread impunity now span beyond national borders and have become a global threat—a threat that does not distinguish between countries and nationalities and drastically undermines stability and international order."

The Ambassador also affirmed that CICIG "is a clear effort, in conjunction with the international community, to tackle root causes of problems generated nationally by organized criminal structures and illegal activities which are capable of weakening the very foundations of the Guatemalan State. In this regard, the Government of Spain takes a very positive view of the work of CICIG.

CICIG, in accordance with its mandate, has investigated and brought proceedings against criminal structures in high-impact cases. It has demonstrated how it is possible to achieve success with complex criminal investigations if the appropriate training is available and there is sufficient determination and will.

Under its mandate, CICIG has transferred capacities and knowledge to its main counterparts, the Guatemalan institutions. In particular, it has directed such efforts at the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP), but also the Ministry of the Interior and the Judiciary (OJ).

Moreover, CICIG has presented major reforms and draft laws, assisted with the appointment of staff and conducted in-depth thematic studies into issues related to organized crime.

Needless to say, the results of these efforts have been highly positive for governance in Guatemala. The results have been a determinant factor and hence the Spanish Government has taken the decision to continue to support CICIG, as it has done so since the very beginning, so that it can fully achieve its imperative mandate."

The CICIG Commissioner, Francisco Dall'Anese Ruiz expressed his appreciation for the Spanish support, which comes at a time when CICIG "once more is subject to attacks from different sectors affected by the work we conduct together with the MP". He stated that the Spanish support was a boost, which comes on top of the announcement made yesterday by the President of the Republic regarding his request to extend the mandate of CICIG for two additional years.

At the event in support of CICIG, Ambassador Lejarreta was accompanied by the President of the OJ and the Supreme Court of Justice, Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernández; the Minister of the Interior, Héctor Mauricio López Bonilla; the Attorney General and Head of the MP, Claudia Paz y Paz; the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Guatemala, René Mauricio Valdés; the CICIG Commissioner, Francisco Dall'Anese Ruíz; and the AECID Coordinator, Miguel Ángel Encinas. The event was also attended by members of the Guatemala diplomatic community.