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UN backs anti-graft investigator in standoff with Guatemala

UN backs anti-graft investigator in standoff with Guatemala

Spokeswoman Florencia Soto told The Associated Press that the agreement between Guatemala and the United Nations stipulates that Guterres gets to determine the head of the commission.

 

“The secretary-general does not see any reason to change his current position of support for Commissioner Ivan Velasquez,” Soto said.

 

Alfredo Brito, secretary for presidential communication, confirmed that the government had received a note from the United Nations but said he did not know its contents.

The letter, to which The Associated Press was given access, repeats that the U.N. stands behind Velasquez, but it also says a deputy head of commission may be named.

 

The refusal continues a standoff between the world body and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who announced in recent weeks that he would not renew the mandate of the commission.

 

Morales also refused to let Velasquez, a Colombian national, return to the country from the United States, and on Monday gave the United Nations 48 hours to present a list of candidates to replace Velasquez as commissioner.