The Commission for Historical Clarification wishes to express a sincere tribute to the people of Guatemala, to the victims of the violence of the past, to their relatives, to the witnesses, to so many people who, through their own personal initiative and with the purpose of contributing to national reconciliation through the clarification of history, have come to the CEH and placed their trust in us. Without them, without their help, support and trust, our delicate task would have been difficult to complete. Their continuous support has motivated and inspired us.

The two Parties to the Accord of Oslo, the Government of the Republic of Guatemala and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity, created and facilitated conditions, particularly with the Government’s financial contribution, for the establishment of the CEH and the fulfilment of its mandate. Whenever asked, the Congress of the Republic facilitated the adequate operation of the CEH. The judiciary responded positively and took us into proper account.

From the preparatory phase of the CEH’s installation, various Guatemalan human rights organisations made extremely valuable contributions to the CEH’s work. In general, the organisations of Guatemalan civil society, including those working for with human rights, victims, indigenous peoples, women’s rights and various other concerns, as well as the private sector and professional associations, lent their continuous support to the work entrusted to this Commission.

The national and international media fulfilled, in exemplary fashion, their function to inform, having followed the CEH’s work with the utmost attention and respect. This allowed Guatemalan society to keep abreast of each advance made by the CEH and to receive the many notifications and conveyances addressed to it.

Without the political and moral support and the financial contributions of the international community, the CEH would not have been able to complete its complex task. The governments of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the European Union contributed the funds allowing the Commission to cover its budget. The government of the United States of America also made a significant effort to declassify vital documents. The Government of Argentina lent vital support to the CEH as well. The Embassy of Norway in Guatemala deserves special mention for its continuous attention to and action regarding the needs of the Commission.

The CEH would like to express its greatest appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who, responding to the request made by the Parties in the Accord of Oslo, made all the necessary arrangements to prepare for the operation of the Commission and establish an appropriate mechanism through the Department of Political Affairs, which enabled the United National Office for Project Services to establish the CEH Support Office as one of its projects. UNOPS has demonstrated extraordinary capacity and flexibility in the management of a project of such complexity.

The United Nations System also contributed experts and materials that helped offset the financial needs. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNOPS, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia all contributed by lending experts to the Commission. The United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) provided vital logistical support for the Commission’s work.

The international NGOs helped the Commission from the moment of its inception, offering technical assistance, directly facilitating the gathering of information by serving as an important channel in its acquisition, making the Commission’s work known and making valuable efforts to obtain information from other governments. The American Association for the Advancement of Science through the appointment of an expert; the Ford Foundation with a financial contribution; and the Soros-Guatemala Foundation through the loan of vehicles, significantly helped the Commission’s work.

The members of the CEH would never have been able to fulfil the mandate without the enormous effort of all the personnel working in the Support Office, under the supervision of the Executive Secretary. All personnel, the Central Team, those responsible for the numerous regional offices, the investigators, analysts, interpreters, administrators and various other assistants, from Guatemala and from thirty-one other nations, have supported us with their admirable commitment and generous dedication, frequently working in difficult conditions and under permanent pressure.

To everyone, thank you!