MEETING BETWEEN DIPLOMATS AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF POLITICAL PARTY PARTIDO PATRIOTA

Guatemala, October 18, 2011. Commissioner Francisco Javier Dall'Anese Ruiz and representatives of the Guatemalan diplomatic corps held a meeting today with the presidential candidate of the political party Partido Patriota, Otto Pérez Molina. At the meeting, issues such as security and justice were discussed.

Pérez Molina pledged to support the work of CICIG and strengthen security and justice: "I appreciate being given this opportunity to discuss how we could work together in strengthening the Guatemalan justice system."

In relation to the Attorney General Claudia Paz y Paz, Pérez Molina said that she would occupy the same position so long as she continued to work as she does at present, "with the determination and limitations that she has had in undertaking her tasks". Therefore, he indicated that one of his government’s priorities would be guaranteeing the availability of funds to strengthen and improve the quality of investigations conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Topics
"One of the topics covered was the support that the government of Otto Pérez would provide to CICIG if he were to be elected. We also discussed the importance of the Attorney General continuing in her position; we believe it is crucial for our work that she remains at the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office," stated the Commissioner, following the meeting.

He informed that he had presented the seven actions to Pérez Molina that the Commission deems necessary to fight organized crime: the creation of elite prosecutor's offices, an International Relations Office in the MP, the strengthening of the Witness Protection Program and the Special Methods Section, the creation of a police force with investigation expertise, the creation of an information platform and the guaranteeing of judicial independence.

The Commissioner also said that ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions had spoken with Pérez Molina regarding the ideas he would have for justice in the country if he were to be elected.

A meeting between the Commissioner, diplomats and the candidate of political party Líder, Manuel Baldizón, is still pending.