GHF in the News - 2008 News Archives

GHF Mirador Featured in International Press

January 2008

Newly-Elected President Alvaro Colom
Pledges Full Support for Mirador Conservation
and Sustainable Development

Translated from Spanish (unedited)

Guatemala proposes a binational Park
Published: 20:37 Jan. 14, 2008

GUATEMALA (Notimex) - This past Monday President Alvaro Colom emphasized the development projects of the new Guatemalan government with Mexico to take advantage of the vicinity of the two nations.

In his first speech after assuming as President of Guatemala for a four-year period 2008 - 2012, the Social Democrat, Colom, explained the interest of his government in realizing a project in the archaeological, tourism, and conservation fields near the border area with Mexico.

In the presence of the Mexican President, Felipe Calderon—one of the 11 heads of state and government invited to the inauguration ceremony of Colom—the new president called for intensifying the development of the border of the two nations. He asserted that Guatemala and Mexico share a border of 974 kilometers, and because of the
insecurity along the border “it is now is a threat, but we want to make it a frontier of opportunity.”

Colom said that for the benefit of the indigenous communities in the region living in poverty, his government would promote the establishment of the National Park El Mirador in the northern part of Peten, bordering Mexico.

He said that this region is one of the greatest archaeological treasures of Guatemala, as is Tikal National Park, which, however, has an area of 16 square miles while El Mirador counts with 42 square miles.

The Guatemalan president stressed that El Mirador has four spectacular Mayan buildings and pyramids that exceed those that houses Tikal, in its Mayan ceremonial center, known worldwide and one of the major tourist destinations in Guatemala.

“If we reach an agreement with Mexico we could have a nice bi-national park”, felt the new ruler in reference to the archaeological wealth of the southern Mexican state of Campeche, also located in the border region with Guatemala.

He noted that the project his government will seek to realize would present a series of ecological benefits, for it would facilitate the preservation of the natural environment of the region.

Colom, postulated for the then opposition party, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (National Unity for Hope), and was sworn in this afternoon as president of Guatemala and succeeded President Oscar Berger, whose four-year term ended this January 14.

Before handing command, the outgoing president argued that he left the country “stronger, healthier, and more orderly” than what the administration received on January 14, 2004.

In his 45-minute speech at the inauguration, Colom raised and recounted the goals and challenges for the next four years, which related to the fight against poverty, organized crime, and promised to “sort out” governance.