Montelimar Declaration

Country/entity
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Region
Americas
Agreement name
Montelimar Declaration
Date
3 Apr 1990
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Stage
Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature
Government
Peace process
Nicaragua contra process
Parties
Oscar ARIAS SANCHEZ President of the Republic of Costa Rica
Alfredo CRISTIANI BURKARD President of the Republic of El Salvador
Vinicio CEREZO AREVALO President of the Republic of Guatemala
Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS President of the Republic of Honduras
Daniel ORTEGA SAAVEDRA President of the Republic of Nicaragua
Third parties
-
Description
An agreement between the countries in Latin America, as part of the Esquipulas process to support democratisation in the region. It deals win particular with the end of the conflict in Nicaragua, but is aimed at wider regional support mechanisms for democratisation.


Groups

Children/youth

No specific mention.

Disabled persons

No specific mention.

Elderly/age

No specific mention.

Migrant workers

No specific mention.

Racial/ethnic/national group

No specific mention.

Religious groups

No specific mention.

Indigenous people

No specific mention.

Other groups

No specific mention.

Refugees/displaced persons
Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 4, Article 14,
To support the implementation of development programmes for displaced, refugee and repatriate populations in Central America, while requesting the international community to maintain and increase support for the commitments they have undertaken up to now so as not to delay their fulfilment, and to express their support for the first international meeting of the Follow-up Committee of the International Conference on Central American Refugees (CIREFCA), shortly to be held at United Nations Headquarters.
Social class

No specific mention.


Gender

Women, girls and gender

No specific mention.

Men and boys

No specific mention.

LGBTI

No specific mention.

Family

No specific mention.


State definition

Nature of state (general)

No specific mention.

State configuration

No specific mention.

Self determination

No specific mention.

Referendum

No specific mention.

State symbols

No specific mention.

Independence/secession

No specific mention.

Accession/unification

No specific mention.

Border delimitation

No specific mention.

Cross-border provision

No specific mention.


Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed)

No specific mention.

Elections
Page 1, Article 3,
Electoral commission

No specific mention.

Political parties reform

No specific mention.

Civil society
Page 1, Article 4,
To confirm their pledge to continue promoting respect for human rights, which includes strengthening and improving their democratic systems for the purpose of fully ensuring: participation of all citizens in the political life of the country; independence and impartiality of the judiciary; and respect for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
Traditional/religious leaders

No specific mention.

Public administration

No specific mention.

Constitution

No specific mention.


Power sharing

Political power sharing

No specific mention.

Territorial power sharing

No specific mention.

Economic power sharing

No specific mention.

Military power sharing

No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general
Page 1, Article 4,
To confirm their pledge to continue promoting respect for human rights, which includes strengthening and improving their democratic systems for the purpose of fully ensuring: participation of all citizens in the political life of the country; independence and impartiality of the judiciary; and respect for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
Bill of rights/similar

No specific mention.

Treaty incorporation

No specific mention.

Civil and political rights

No specific mention.

Socio-economic rights

No specific mention.


Rights related issues

Citizenship

No specific mention.

Democracy
Page 1, Article 2,
To express their satisfaction with the progress achieved for consolidating democracy in the region through fair and honest electoral processes that bear witness to the effectiveness and fulfillment of the political commitments assumed in the context of Esquipulas

Page 1, Article 3,
To express their pleasure at the successful outcome, on 25 February 1990, of the electoral process in the Republic of Nicaragua, because these elections were held in a completely free and honest environment, as witnessed by the numerous international observers.
To commend the guarantees extended by the Government of Nicaragua in fulfilment of the political commitments entered into at the various stages of the Esguipulas process, and to express their satisfaction with the agreements reached by the Transition Teams of the current Government and the Government-elect, to which they gave their moral support out of respect for the paramount decisions adopted by the Nicaraguan people.
Accordingly, the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras convey their thanks to the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega Saavedra, for promoting and reinforcing the process towards consolidating representative and pluralistic democracy in his country.

Page 1, Article 4,
To confirm their pledge to continue promoting respect for human rights, which includes strengthening and improving their democratic systems for the purpose of fully ensuring: participation of all citizens in the political life of the country; independence and impartiality of the judiciary; and respect for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Page 2, Article 7,
To reaffirm the importance, for the consolidation of democracy, of integrating the irregular forces into political life, within the framework of the Esquipulas Agreements. In this regard, they expressed their satisfaction at the forthcoming resumption of talks between the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) and at the agreements reached at Oslo between the National Reconciliation Commission of Guatemala and the Union Fevolucionaria Nacionalista de Guatemala (URNG). The Central American countries also offered to serve as hosts for the meetings to be conducted in the context of these processes.

Page 3, Article 9,
In accordance with point 7 of the Esguipulas II Agreement and in the light of the progress made in national reconciliation processes and in the consolidation and improvement of democracy, they decide that now is the time to promote and prepare a timetable for the pending negotiations in the matter of security, verification, control and limitation of arms. They therefore summon the Security Commission to meet in Costa Rica on 15 May 1990 for the purpose of continuing such negotiations.

Pages 3-4,
Once the obstacles to peace have been overcome, it is necessary, in order to consolidate democracy, to face the economic challenge with determination; consequently, they decide that the next summit meeting should address the following issues in depth ...
Detention procedures

No specific mention.

Media and communication

No specific mention.

Mobility/access

No specific mention.

Protection measures

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.


Rights institutions

NHRI

No specific mention.

Regional or international human rights institutions

No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law

No specific mention.

State of emergency provisions

No specific mention.

Judiciary and courts

No specific mention.

Prisons and detention

No specific mention.

Traditional Laws

No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction
Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Pages 3-4,
Once the obstacles to peace have been overcome, it is necessary, in order to consolidate democracy, to face the economic challenge with determination; consequently, they decide that the next summit meeting should address the following issues in depth:
(a) The restructuring, strengthen and reactivation of regional economic integration;
(b) Movement towards an integrated system of production at the regional level;
(c) A restatement of the issues deriving from the external debt; and
(d) Better distribution of the social costs of the necessary adjustment of the economies.

To support the national economic adjustment programmes required for dealing with the serious economic and social problems of the area, the solution of which is vital for stabilizing the countries of the region. In this regard, they appeal to the international community to strengthen, consolidate and increase economic support for the region, for example, through the Luxembourg Agreement, direct co-operation and the Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America. In this context, they reiterate the urgent need to provide Central America with additional financial resources on favourable terms.

To recognize the need to strengthen the activities of the public and private, national and international organizations which are helping to overcome political obstacles, solve social problems and promote economic development in the region, In this connection, they have expressed their satisfaction at the offers to contribute towards this end that have been made, on this occasion, by the Governments or Canada and Japan.

To express their conviction that, at this new stage, it is essential that the people and Government of Panama should ' e included in the efforts being made in the region to strengthen and improve the countries' democratic and pluralistic regimes which are committed to the economic and social development of their peoples. Being determined to make this concept a reality, and to support their efforts to restore to normal the political life of that country, while maintaining the respect for the international legal order and, in particular, for the rules governing the co-existence of sovereign States, they decide to extend a fraternal invitation to the Government of Panama to participate actively in the processes of dialogue, negotiation and harmonization being carried out in these areas by the Governments of Central America.

To express their satisfaction at the progress achieved in implementing the Special Plan for Economic Co-operation for Central America (PEC) as a valuable instrument of the Peace Plan, and to urge the parties concerned to enter into project-financing commitments within the context of the sectoral meetings sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). They also stress that this arrangement should continue to receive budgetary support within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
To welcome the proposal, put forward by the Governments of Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela, designed to extend their co-operation to the development and strengthening of national centres in the Central American countries, which would enable these centres to acquire a regional scope and significance in the sectors of education, health, agriculture and energy, and to acknowledge the contribution they are making to the achievement of peace in Central America.

Page 4, Article 15,
To reaffirm that the health of the Central American peoples is a political priority which involves maintaining and studying in depth joint actions in the health sector, as a bridge for peace and understanding between the peoples of the area. To this end, they have decided to direct their ministers of health, to evaluate immediately the achievements, over the last five years, of the Plan for Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama (PPSCAP) and formulate a new health initiative for Central America. To this end, they request the co-operation of the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), among others.
National economic plan

No specific mention.

Natural resources

No specific mention.

International funds
Pages 3-4,
Once the obstacles to peace have been overcome, it is necessary, in order to consolidate democracy, to face the economic challenge with determination; consequently, they decide that the next summit meeting should address the following issues in depth.
...
To support the national economic adjustment programmes required for dealing with the serious economic and social problems of the area, the solution of which is vital for stabilizing the countries of the region. In this regard, they appeal to the international community to strengthen, consolidate and increase economic support for the region, for example, through the Luxembourg Agreement, direct co-operation and the Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America. In this context, they reiterate the urgent need to provide Central America with additional financial resources on favourable terms.
...
To express their satisfaction at the progress achieved in implementing the Special Plan for Economic Co-operation for Central America (PEC) as a valuable instrument of the Peace Plan, and to urge the parties concerned to enter into project-financing commitments within the context of the sectoral meetings sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). They also stress that this arrangement should continue to receive budgetary support within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). ...
Business

No specific mention.

Taxation

No specific mention.

Banks

No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights

No specific mention.

Pastoralist/nomadism rights

No specific mention.

Cultural heritage

No specific mention.

Environment
Page 4, 13,
To express their satisfaction with the work done by the Central American Commission on Environment and Development, and to reaffirm their support, encouraging it to continue its activities and evaluate the need for, and the advisability of, mustering sources of financing and llexible and innovative financial mechanisms for carrying out their programmes and projects. To this end, they agree to discuss the issue of "debt-for-environment" swaps at the next summit.
Water or riparian rights or access

No specific mention.


Security sector

Security Guarantees
Page 3, Article 9,
In accordance with point 7 of the Esguipulas II Agreement and in the light of the progress made in national reconciliation processes and in the consolidation and improvement of democracy, they decide that now is the time to promote and prepare a timetable for the pending negotiations in the matter of security, verification, control and limitation of arms. They therefore summon the Security Commission to meet in Costa Rica on 15 May 1990 for the purpose of continuing such negotiations.
Ceasefire

No specific mention.

Police

No specific mention.

Armed forces

No specific mention.

DDR
Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Pages 1-2, Article 5,
To emphasize the urgent need for immediate demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance, pursuant to the Joint Plan for demobilization, signed at the Tela Summit on 7 August 1989, and the Toncontin Agreement, signed in Honduras on 23 March 1990, and to express their satisfaction at the willingness shown by the parties involved to achieve that objective.
The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras applaud the immediate support given by the Government of Nicaragua to the aforesaid Agreement which they also fully support, so that peace may be restored in the country and the transfer of power carried out in absolutely normal conditions.
To support the Protocol of Procedure for the Transfer of Presidential Authority of the Republic of Nicaragua, and to reguest the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) and the International Support and Verification Commission (CIAV) to take the necessary steps to ensure timely support for the demobilization and disarmament of the members of the Resistance who are inside or outside Nicaragua, a process which is to be initiated immediately and to be concluded no later than 25 April 1990.
The weapons to be received by ONUCA are to be destroyed in situ in the presence of representatives of other Central American Governments invited for this purpose by the relevant Government.
To urge the Government of the United States of America to continue supporting and contributing to the demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance and to channel the funds approved for these forces to CIAV, so that the said funds are used for reintegrating both the ex-members of the Nicaraguan Resistance who have handed over their weapons to ONUCA, and their families, into the normal life of the country.
To express their thanks and recognition for the valuable co-operation of the Government of Honduras in demobilizing the Nicaraguan Resistance.

Page 2, Article 7,
To reaffirm the importance, for the consolidation of democracy, of integrating the irregular forces into political life, within the framework of the Esquipulas Agreements. In this regard, they expressed their satisfaction at the forthcoming resumption of talks between the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) and at the agreements reached at Oslo between the National Reconciliation Commission of Guatemala and the Union Fevolucionaria Nacionalista de Guatemala (URNG). The Central American countries also offered to serve as hosts for the meetings to be conducted in the context of these processes.
Intelligence services

No specific mention.

Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

No specific mention.

Withdrawal of foreign forces

No specific mention.

Corruption

No specific mention.

Crime/organised crime

No specific mention.

Drugs
Page 4, Article 12,
To sign the Regional Co-operation Agreement to Eradicate Illegal Drug Trafficking, as an expression of their firm political will to co-operate closely in the joint endeavour to prevent and stand up to the risks deriving from illicit drug trafficking. In particular, they have stressed the importance of regional and international co-operation and of adopting laws that will make it possible to eradicate drug trafficking.
Terrorism
Page 2, Article 8,
To condemn terrorist actions in the region and to reiterate their appeal for the cessation of violent action of all kinds that directly or indirectly harms the civilian population and to the production infrastructure, and to demand the immediate release of all persons being held by irregular forces or terrorist groups.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general

No specific mention.

Amnesty/pardon

No specific mention.

Courts

No specific mention.

Mechanism

No specific mention.

Prisoner release

No specific mention.

Vetting

No specific mention.

Victims

No specific mention.

Missing persons

No specific mention.

Reparations

No specific mention.

Reconciliation
Page 3, Article 9,
In accordance with point 7 of the Esguipulas II Agreement and in the light of the progress made in national reconciliation processes and in the consolidation and improvement of democracy, they decide that now is the time to promote and prepare a timetable for the pending negotiations in the matter of security, verification, control and limitation of arms. They therefore summon the Security Commission to meet in Costa Rica on 15 May 1990 for the purpose of continuing such negotiations.

Implementation

UN signatory

No specific mention.

Other international signatory

No specific mention.

Referendum for agreement

No specific mention.

International mission/force/similar
Pages 1-2, Article 5,
To emphasize the urgent need for immediate demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance, pursuant to the Joint Plan for demobilization, signed at the Tela Summit on 7 August 1989, and the Toncontin Agreement, signed in Honduras on 23 March 1990, and to express their satisfaction at the willingness shown by the parties involved to achieve that objective.
The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras applaud the immediate support given by the Government of Nicaragua to the aforesaid Agreement which they also fully support, so that peace may be restored in the country and the transfer of power carried out in absolutely normal conditions.
To support the Protocol of Procedure for the Transfer of Presidential Authority of the Republic of Nicaragua, and to reguest the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) and the International Support and Verification Commission (CIAV) to take the necessary steps to ensure timely support for the demobilization and disarmament of the members of the Resistance who are inside or outside Nicaragua, a process which is to be initiated immediately and to be concluded no later than 25 April 1990.
The weapons to be received by ONUCA are to be destroyed in situ in the presence of representatives of other Central American Governments invited for this purpose by the relevant Government.
To urge the Government of the United States of America to continue supporting and contributing to the demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance and to channel the funds approved for these forces to CIAV, so that the said funds are used for reintegrating both the ex-members of the Nicaraguan Resistance who have handed over their weapons to ONUCA, and their families, into the normal life of the country.
To express their thanks and recognition for the valuable co-operation of the Government of Honduras in demobilizing the Nicaraguan Resistance.
Enforcement mechanism

No specific mention.

Related cases

No specific mention.

Source
UN Peacemaker
http://peacemaker.un.org/

Montelimar Declaration

The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, meeting at Montelimar, Republic of Nicaragua, on 2 and 3 April 1990,

Bearing in mind the matters agreed upon in the various documents and declarations constituting the Esguipulas peace process which forms a single and indivisible whole, and inspired by the same patriotic and Central American spirit as has enabled the dialogue and negotiations held by the Central American Presidents to make a historic and decisive contribution for regional peace,

AGREE

1. To confirm the full validity of each and every commitment assumed in the Esguipulas process, and to renew the decision to implement the agreements reached in their entirety.

2. To express their satisfaction with the progress achieved for consolidating democracy in the region through fair and honest electoral processes that bear witness to the effectiveness and fulfilment of the political commitments assumed in the context of Esguipulas.

3. To express their pleasure at the successful outcome, on 25 February 1990, of the electoral process in the Republic of Nicaragua, because these elections were held in a completely free and honest environment, as witnessed by the numerous international observers.

To commend the guarantees extended by the Government of Nicaragua in fulfilment of the political commitments entered into at the various stages of the Esguipulas process, and to express their satisfaction with the agreements reached by the Transition Teams of the current Government and the Government-elect, to which they gave their moral support out of respect for the paramount decisions adopted by the Nicaraguan people.

Accordingly, the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras convey their thanks to the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega Saavedra, for promoting and reinforcing the process towards consolidating representative and pluralistic democracy in his country.

4. To confirm their pledge to continue promoting respect for human rights, which includes strengthening and improving their democratic systems for the purpose of fully ensuring:

participation of all citizens in the political life of the country;

independence and impartiality of the judiciary;

and respect for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

5. To emphasize the urgent need for immediate demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance, pursuant to the Joint Plan for demobilization, signed at the Tela Summit on 7 August 1989, and the Toncontin Agreement, signed in Honduras on 23 March 1990, and to express their satisfaction at the willingness shown by the parties involved to achieve that objective.

The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras applaud the immediate support given by the Government of Nicaragua to the aforesaid Agreement which they also fully support, so that peace may be restored in the country and the transfer of power carried out in absolutely normal conditions.

To support the Protocol of Procedure for the Transfer of Presidential Authority of the Republic of Nicaragua, and to reguest the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) and the International Support and Verification Commission (CIAV) to take the necessary steps to ensure timely support for the demobilization and disarmament of the members of the Resistance who are inside or outside Nicaragua, a process which is to be initiated immediately and to be concluded no later than 25 April 1990.

The weapons to be received by ONUCA are to be destroyed in situ in the presence of representatives of other Central American Governments invited for this purpose by the relevant Government.

To urge the Government of the United States of America to continue supporting and contributing to the demobilization of the Nicaraguan Resistance and to channel the funds approved for these forces to CIAV, so that the said funds are used for reintegrating both the ex-members of the Nicaraguan Resistance who have handed over their weapons to ONUCA, and their families, into the normal life of the country.

To express their thanks and recognition for the valuable co-operation of the Government of Honduras in demobilizing the Nicaraguan Resistance.

6. To thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States for their continued efforts in support of the Esquipulas process, and to reiterate their support for the vork of ONUCA and CIAV.

7. To reaffirm the importance, for the consolidation of democracy, of integrating the irregular forces into political life, within the framework of the Esquipulas Agreements.

In this regard, they expressed their satisfaction at the forthcoming resumption of talks between the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) and at the agreements reached at Oslo between the National Reconciliation Commission of Guatemala and the Union Fevolucionaria Nacionalista de Guatemala (URNG).

The Central American countries also offered to serve as hosts for the meetings to be conducted in the context of these processes.

8. To condemn terrorist actions in the region and to reiterate their appeal for the cessation of violent action of all kinds that directly or indirectly harms the civilian population and to the production infrastructure, and to demand the immediate release of all persons being held by irregular forces or terrorist groups

9, In accordance with point 7 of the Esguipulas II Agreement and in the light of the progress made in national reconciliation processes and in the consolidation and improvement of democracy, they decide that now is the time to promote and prepare a timetable for the pending negotiations in the matter of security, verification, control and limitation of arms.

They therefore summon the Security Commission to meet in Costa Rica on 15 May 1990 for the purpose of continuing such negotiations.

10. Once the obstacles to peace have been overcome, it is necessary, in order to consolidate democracy, to face the economic challenge with determination;

consequently, they decide that the next summit meeting should address the following issues in depth:

(a) The restructuring, strengthen and reactivation of regional economic integration;

(b) Movement towards an integrated system of production at the regional level;

(c) A restatement of the issues deriving from the external debt;

and

(d) Better distribution of the social costs of the necessary adjustment of the economies.

To support the national economic adjustment programmes required for dealing with the serious economic and social problems of the area, the solution of which is vital for stabilizing the countries of the region.

In this regard, they appeal to the international community to strengthen, consolidate and increase economic support for the region, for example, through the Luxembourg Agreement, direct co-operation and the Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America.

In this context, they reiterate the urgent need to provide Central America with additional financial resources on favourable terms.

To recognize the need to strengthen the activities of the public and private, national and international organizations which are helping to overcome political obstacles, solve social problems and promote economic development in the region, In this connection, they have expressed tneir satisfaction at the offers to contribute towards this end that have been made, on this occasion, by the Governments or Canada and Japan.

io express their conviction that, at this new stage, it is essential that the people and Government of Panama should ' e included in the efforts being made in the region to strengthen and improve the countries' democratic and pluralistic regimes which are committed to the economic and social development of their p.jples.

Being determined to make this concept a reality, and to support their efforts to restore to normal the political life of that country, while maintaining the s' .ictest respect for the international legal ordei and, in particular, for the rules governing the co-existence of sovereign States, they decide to extend a fraternal invitation to the Government of Panama to participate actively in the processes of dialogue, negotiation and harmonization being carried out in these areas by the Governments of Central America.

To express their satisfaction at the progress achieved in implementing the Special Plan for Economic Co-operation for Central America (PEC) as a valuable instrument of the Peace Plan, and to urge the parties concerned to enter into project-financing commitments within the context of the sectoral meetings sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

They also stress that this arrangement should continue to receive budgetary support within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

To welcome the proposal, put forward by the Governments of Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela, designed to extend their co-operation to the development and strengthening of national centres in zhe Central American countries, which would enable these centres to acquire a regional scope and significance in the sectors of education, health, agriculture and energy, and to acknowledge the contribution fchey are making to the achievement of peace in Central America.

11. To express their profound satisfaction with the process of ratification of the Protocol to the Constituent Treaty of the Central American Parliament, which will make possible the establishment of this Parliament, thus initiating a new stage in the Central American integration process.

12. To sign the Regional Co-operation Agreement to Eradicate Illegal Drug Trafficking, as an expression of their firm political will to co-operate closely in the joint endeavour to prevent and stand up to the risks deriving from illicit drug trafficking.

In particular, they have stressed the importance of regional and international co-operation and of adopting laws that will make it possible to eradicate drug trafficking.

13. To express their satisfaction with the work done by the Central American Commission on Environment and Development, and to reaffirm their support, encouraging it to continue its activities and evaluate the need for, and the advisability of, mustering sources of financing and llexible and innovative financial mechanisms for carrying out their programmes and projects.

To this end, they agree to discuss the issue of "debt-for-environment" swaps at the next summit.

14. To support the implementation of development programmes for displaced, refugee and repatriate populations in Central America, while requesting the international community to maintain and increase support for the commitments they have undertaken up to now so as not to delay their fulfilment, and to express their support for the first international meeting of the Follow-up Committee of the International Conference on Central American Refugees (CIREFCA), shortly to be held at United Nations Headquarters.

15. To reaffirm that the health of the Central American peoples is a political priority which involves maintaining and studying in depth joint actions in the health sector, as a bridge for peace and understanding between the peoples of the area.

To this end, they have decided to direct their ministers of health, to evaluate immediately the achievements, over the last five years, of the Plan for Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama (PPSCAP) and formulate a new health initiative for Central America.

To this end, they request the co-operation of the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), among others.

16. They decide to convene during the second quarter of the current year at the regular meeting to be held in the Republic of Guatemala.

17. The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras wish to congratulate the people and Government of Nicaragua for their fraternal hospitality, which contributed decisively towards creating a frank and constructive atmosphere which will surely further the Central American peace effort.

DONE at Montelimar, Republic of Nicaragua, on 3 April 1990.

Oscar ARIAS SANCHEZ President of the Republic of Costa r.ica

Alfredo CRISTIANI BURKARD President of the Republic of El Salvador

Vinicio CEREZO AREVALO President of the Republic of Guatimala

Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS President of the Republic of Honduras

Daniel ORTEGA SAAVEDRA President of the Republic of Nicaragua