Guatemala, January 27, 2014. Regardless of future decisions of the Government of Guatemala and the United Nations Secretary-General in relation to prolonging the stay of CICIG beyond 3 September 2015, the agreement entered into in 2007, which was renewed without amendment for the 2013-2015 period, bestowed upon the Commission the responsibility of fulfilling a mandate centered on tackling impunity. This mandate is implemented by undertaking criminal investigations, publishing thematic reports, and presenting legal reform proposals, as well as numerous other actions to strengthen the rule of law and, in particular, the justice institutions.

However, these efforts, which we will undertake until the very last day of our mandate, would not be possible without the genuine determination of the authorities and the people of Guatemala to make progress; they are responsible for their destiny and we need their full cooperation in order to properly carry out our activities. CICIG is ultimately nothing more than the outcome of a common goal shared by Guatemala and the international community to strengthen the country's institutions through the provision—without acts of heroism or messianic posturing—of international experience in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

In this regard, since its inception, the Commission has shared good criminal investigation practices with the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP)—prosecutors, investigators and analysts—on the understanding that through its daily activities CICIG can achieve better, more appropriate skills transfer, which can be complemented by academic workshops to reinforce ideas and to present the theoretical background.

These skills will be enhanced over the coming period through more intensive investigative work by the Commission, which will also support other prosecution offices in tackling organized crime and develop a joint plan with the Attorney General to dismantle criminal structures, both by prosecuting their members and seizing their assets. The seizure of assets is a means of ensuring the appropriate individual, collective, personal and social reparations—an activity the justice system must incorporate as one of its main priorities.

The Commission must also have a closer rapport with the community in order to strengthen institutions and the rule of law. By doing so, it would be possible to promote citizen participation mechanisms, such as civic oversight, with the aim of empowering individuals in overseeing public affairs and involving them in their reality, in the their Government and in their future.

You can be assured that during this period of its mandate the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala will focus all of its efforts and skills on meeting national aspirations to build a better country.