[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E7-E8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE GUATEMALAN ELECTIONS

                                 ______


                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 3, 1996

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, the participation of citizens in free 
and fair elections, and their faith in the legitimacy of the subsequent 
electoral results, are fundamental to all democracies. No participatory 
democracy is able to survive if its citizens do not have faith in the 
electoral process. To be able to ensure that democracy continues to 
take root and flourish throughout the Western Hemisphere, we must do 
all within our power to encourage the development of conditions that 
inspire faith in electoral processes throughout the Americas.
  To that end, as it attempted to do in Haiti, the Clinton 
administration should do what it can to ensure to the Guatemalan 
people, that the second round of elections scheduled to 

[[Page E8]]
take place on January 7 in that Central American country is free and 
fair. By doing so, the Clinton administration would help ensure that 
the Guatemalan people not only develop trust in their own electoral 
system, but further appreciate the benefits of living in a democracy.

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