Relations between the United States and Guatemala traditionally have been close, although at times strained by human rights and civil/military issues. U.S. policy objectives in Guatemala include:

• Supporting the institutionalization of democracy and implementation of the peace accords;
• Negotiating a free trade agreement, together with the other Central American countries;
• Encouraging respect for human rights and the rule of law;
• Supporting broad-based economic growth and sustainable development and maintaining mutually beneficial trade and commercial relations;
• Cooperating to combat narcotics trafficking, alien-smuggling and other transnational crime; and
• Supporting Central American integration through support for resolution of border/territorial disputes.

The United States, as a member of "the Friends of Guatemala," along with Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Norway, and Venezuela, played an important role in the UN-moderated Peace Accords, providing public and behind-the-scenes support. The U.S. strongly supports the six substantive and three procedural accords, which, along with the signing of the December 29, 1996 final accord, form the blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change. To that end, the U.S. Government has committed nearly $400 million to support peace implementation since 1997.

Although almost all of the 180,000 U.S. tourists who visit Guatemala annually do so without incident, in recent years the number of violent crime reported by U.S. citizens has steadily increased. Increases in the number of Americans reported as victims of violent crime may be the result of any combination of factors: increased numbers of Americans traveling to Guatemala; increased accuracy in the embassy's reporting of crime; more Americans traveling to higher risk areas of Guatemala; or more crime.

Most U.S. assistance is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) offices for Guatemala and Central American Programs (USAID/G-CAP). USAID's programs support U.S. foreign policy objectives by promoting reforms in democratic governance, economic growth and the social sectors, with special emphasis on the rural indigenous poor whose lives have been most seriously affected by the internal civil conflict. In addition to low incomes, these populations have limited economic opportunities for economic advancement, lack access to social services, and have limited access to, or influence over, the policymaking processes.

Totaling $50-$55 million annually, USAID programs pursue six objectives. These are:

• Supporting the implementation of the 1996 peace accords;
• Aiding the improvement of the legal system and assist citizens in its use;
• Increasing educational access and quality for all Guatemalans;
• Improving the health of Guatemalan women, children, and rural families;
• Increasing the earning capacity of poor rural families; and
• Expanding natural resources management and conservation of biodiversity.

USAID's largest program is the support of the Peace Accords. The Accords require major investments in health, education, and other basic services to reach the rural indigenous poor and require the full participation of the indigenous people in local and national decision-making. They also call for a profound restructuring of the state, affecting some of its most fundamental institutions--the military, the national police and the system of justice--in order to end impunity and confirm the rule of law. Finally, they require basic changes in tax collection and expenditure and improved financial management.

USAID's regional Central America Program is also based in Guatemala. Providing between $20-$30 million in annual assistance, USAID's regional program in coordination with the U.S. embassies in the region and bilateral USAID Missions in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama supports four key objectives. These are:

• Promotion of free trade;
• Expansion of Central American natural resources management and conservation;
• Advancement of regional HIV/AIDS services and information; and
• Rural diversification to enhance incomes.

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is located at Avenida la Reforma 7-01, Zone 10, Guatemala City (tel. [502] 331-1541); fax [502] 331-8885)