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VALENTIN PANIAGUA, FORMER PERUVIAN PRESIDENT, TO LEAD
OAS ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION IN GUATEMALA

  June 25, 2003

Former Peruvian President Valentín Paniagua met with Secretary General César Gaviria at the Organization of American States in Washington today, after he was appointed as Chief of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission that will monitor elections in Guatemala in November.

Paniagua announced after the meeting that he would visit Guatemala City shortly, to meet with various leading political figures and senior government officials.

“Guatemala stands in the region as a clear example of commitment to democracy,” remarked Paniagua, who was accompanied by Elizabeth Spehar, Executive Coordinator of the OAS’ Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD), and by Deputy Chief of the Observation Mission, Moisés Benamor, Principal Specialist with the UPD.

The former Peruvian leader is also scheduled to meet with Guatemala’s Ambassador to the OAS, Víctor Hugo Godoy Morales, while in Washington.

Next month, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission begins regular deployment of experts in election organization and management to Guatemala. The team of monitors will also include experts in information and computer technology as well as election analysts.

The Mission will be fully installed in Guatemala in October.

Reference: E-120/03