Annan hails 10th anniversary of historic peace accords in El Salvador

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today applauded the tenth anniversary of the signing of peace accords that ended over a decade of war in El Salvador, describing the historic agreement as paving "new ground in peace making and peace-building."

"The 1992 accords signalled an innovative approach to ending civil conflict by addressing its root causes and transforming the institutions that had served to preserve the status quo," the Secretary-General said in a statement issued by his spokesman in New York.

Mr. Annan attributed the successful implementation of the accords primarily to the political will and determination of the Government and of the opposition Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN) to end the war.

"As Salvadorans examine their society today and look toward the future, the Secretary-General hopes that the accords and the democratic, rights-respecting approach they embody will continue to serve as inspirations and points of reference," the statement said, noting that the experience has provided both the Organization and other societies facing similar situations with lessons that will serve as a model.

In recent years, the UN has continued to verify four areas relating to land tenure and benefits for those wounded in combat and the dependents of combatants who lost their lives. According to the statement, the Secretary-General was gratified by the agreement reached in December 2001 paving the way for progress on the war-wounded question.

"On this occasion he wishes to reiterate his call to the Government, the Fund for the War-Wounded, the FMLN and the associations of beneficiaries to implement the December agreement, thereby concluding this remaining aspect of the accords, and sealing the completion of a remarkable process," the statement said.