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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon
Embassy: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908

Consulate(s) General are in:
Los Angeles
1605 W. Olympic Bl., Suite 422,
Los Angeles, CA 900105
(213) 365-9251

San Francisco
785 Market St,
San Francisco, CA 94103,
(415) 896-9181

Miami
300 Sevilla Av., Suite 210,
Coral Gables, FL 33134.
(305) 443-4828

Chicago
200 N. Michigan Av., Suite 610,
Chicago, IL 60601.
(312) 332-1587

New York
57 Park Av.,
New York, NY 10016.
(212) 686-3837

Houston
3600 S. Gessner Rd., Suite 200,
Houston, TX 77063.
(713) 953-9531

US Diplomatic Representation:

Ambassador: Stephen G. McFarland
Embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
Telephone: (502) 2326-4000
Fax: (502) 334-8477


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Guatemala
Embassy of Guatemala in Washington DC, U.S.A.
U.S Embassy Web Site in Guatemala


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security, regional development, and economic integration. Guatemala participates in several regional groups, particularly those related to trade and the environment.

The Council of Central American Ministers of Trade meets on a regular basis to work on regional approaches to trade issues. The council signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the U.S. in 1998, and was part of the negotiations that led to the creation of CAFTA-DR. Guatemala joined Honduras and El Salvador in signing a free trade agreement with Mexico in 2000, which went into effect the following year. Guatemala also originated the idea for, and is the seat of, the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN).

The U.S. and Central American countries signed the CONCAUSA (Conjunto Centroamerica-USA) agreement at the Summit of the Americas in December 1994. CONCAUSA is a cooperative plan of action to promote clean, efficient energy use; conserve the region's biodiversity; strengthen legal and institutional frameworks and compliance mechanisms; and improve and harmonize environmental protection standards.

Guatemala has a long-standing claim to a large portion of Belize; the territorial dispute caused problems with the United Kingdom and later with Belize following its 1981 independence from the U.K. In December 1989, Guatemala sponsored Belize for permanent observer status in the Organization of American States (OAS). In September 1991, Guatemala recognized Belize's independence and established diplomatic ties, while acknowledging that the boundaries remained in dispute. In anticipation of an effort to bring the border dispute to an end in early 1996, the Guatemalan Congress ratified two long-pending international agreements governing frontier issues and maritime rights. In 2001, Guatemala and Belize agreed to a facilitation process led by the OAS to determine the land and maritime borders separating the two countries. National elections in Guatemala put a temporary halt to progress, but discussions resumed in November 2005. After being named Foreign Minister in 2008, Haroldo Rodas made clear his intention to reinvigorate discussions with Belize, and the two countries signed an agreement to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice at The Hague for resolution. The agreement is pending ratification by simultaneous plebiscites in both countries.

NATIONAL SECURITY
Guatemala is a signatory to the Rio Pact and is a member of the Conference of Central American Armed Forces (CFAC). Guatemala has deployed its troops to UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Congo and has observers in several other locations. The president is commander in chief. The Minister of Defense is responsible for policy. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the military chief of staff and the national defense staff.

An agreement signed in September 1996, which is one of the substantive peace accords, mandated that the mission of the armed forces change to focus exclusively on external threats. However, Presidents Colom, Berger, Portillo, and Arzu used a constitutional clause to order the army to temporarily support the police in response to a nationwide wave of violent crime.

The 1996 accord calls for a one-third reduction in the army's authorized strength and budget--achieved under President Berger--and for a constitutional amendment to permit the appointment of a civilian Minister of Defense. A constitutional amendment to this end was defeated as part of a May 1999 plebiscite, but discussions on how to achieve this objective continue between the executive and legislative branches.

As of March 2010, the army numbered around 16,100 troops, having gone well beyond its accord-mandated target of reducing its strength from 50,000 to 33,000 troops. President Colom has increased the cap on troop levels to 20,000. Not only was this reduction the most profound transformation of any Central American military in the last 50 years, it also indicates the effective control the civilian government has over the military. President Berger tasked the Ministry of Defense with increasing the professional skills of all soldiers, but military budgets remained limited and troop levels fell as far as 15,500. As part of the army downsizing, the operational structure of 19 military zones was eliminated. Currently, there are 6 brigades with contiguous areas of responsibility throughout the country. The air force operates three main air bases; the navy has two primary port bases. Additionally, recent steps have been taken to redefine the military's mission--the military doctrine has been rewritten, and there has been an increase in cooperation with civil society to help bring about this reform.

U.S.-GUATEMALAN RELATIONS

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;
* Encouraging respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the efficient functioning of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG);
* Supporting broad-based economic growth and sustainable development and maintaining mutually beneficial trade and commercial relations, including ensuring that benefits of CAFTA-DR reach all sectors of the Guatemalan populace;
* Cooperating to combat money laundering, corruption, narcotics trafficking, alien-smuggling, and other transnational crime, including through programs funded under the Central American Regional Security Initiative; 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 over $500 million to support peace implementation since 1997.

Violent criminal activity continues to be a problem in Guatemala, including murder, rape, and armed assaults against persons of all nationalities. In recent years the number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens has steadily increased, though the number of Americans traveling to Guatemala has also increased.

Most U.S. assistance to Guatemala is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) offices for Guatemala. USAID/Guatemala's current program builds on the gains of the peace process that followed the signing of the peace accords in December 1996, as well as on the achievements of its 1997-2004 peace program. The current program works to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by focusing on Guatemala's potential as Central America's largest economy and trading partner of the United States, but also recognizes the country's lagging social indicators and high rate of poverty. The three areas of focus for USAID/Guatemala's program are modeled after the Millennium Challenge Account areas--ruling justly, economic freedom, and investing in people, and are as follows:


More responsive, transparent governance, through:
o Strengthened justice; and
o Greater transparency and accountability of governments.

Open, diversified, and expanding economies, through:
o Laws, policies, and regulations that promote trade and investment;
o More competitive, market-oriented private enterprises; and
o Broader access to financial markets and services.

Healthier, better educated people, through:
o Increased and improved quality of social sector (health and education) investments; and
o Increased use of quality maternal-child and reproductive health services, particularly in rural areas.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Stephen G. McFarland
Deputy Chief of Mission--David Lindwall
Political and Economic Counselor-- Drew Blakeney
Management Officer--Leo Hession


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Guatemala check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (GTQ) Quetzal, (USD) U.S Dollar
Electrical 120 Volts
Telephones Country Code 502, City Code Guatemala Area 2+7D, Suburban Zone 6+7D, Interurban Zone 7+7D



Time: GMT - 6.

Electricity: 115-125 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations.

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 502. Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone calls to Europe are slightly cheaper between 1900 and 0700.

Climate: Guatemala’s climate varies according to altitude. The coastal regions and the northeast are hot throughout the year with an average temperature of 20°C (68°F) sometimes rising to 37°C (99°F). Generally, nights are clear all year round. In higher climes, near the centre of the country, the rainy season, running from May to September, is characterised by clear skies after abundant rainfall in the afternoons and evenings. Temperatures fall sharply at night.

Required clothing: Lightweight tropicals. Jacket or light woollens for the evening.

Food & Drink: There is a variety of restaurants and cafes serving a wide selection of cooking styles including American, Argentinian, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican and Spanish. Fast-food chains also have outlets here and there are many continental-style cafes. The visitor should note that food varies in price rather than quality.

Shopping: Special purchases include textiles, handicrafts, jewellery, jade carvings, leather goods, ceramics and basketry. Markets are best for local products and bargaining is necessary. Ceramics can be purchased cheaply in many places including Villa de Chinautla, San Luis Jilotepeque and Rabinal. Cobán is the cheapest place to buy silverware. The Central Market in Guatemala City and the Craft Market provide a range of crafts combining traditional and modern styles. Guatemala City contains many modern shopping centres and malls. Gran Centro Comercial Los Proceres, Galerias La Pradera, Plaza Cemaco and Geminis International Mall are all located in Zone 10. In addition, visitors may make use of the facilities at Tikal Futura, Peri-Roosevelt Shopping Mall and the Century Shopping Centre. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1930. Malls are also open on Sunday.

Tipping: 10 per cent is normal in restaurants where service has not been included.

Currency: Quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of Q100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Q1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos.

Currency exchange: The Quetzal is extremely difficult to obtain outside Guatemala or exchange after leaving Guatemala, and visitors are strongly advised to exchange local currency before departure. It may be difficult to negotiate notes which are torn. Unused local currency can be exchanged at the bank at the airport (opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-2000.) ATMs are common throughout the country.

Credit & debit cards: Visa and American Express are accepted, whilst Diners Club and MasterCard have a more limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted by most banks and good hotels, although visitors may experience occasional problems. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco..........80 cigarettes or 99 grams tobacco

Liquor..............1.5 litres (2 bottles) of alcohol

Perfume...........2 bottles

Cameras..........Reasonable for personal use

Film.................Reasonable for personal use

Agricultural items/Currency/Gifts...Refer to consulate



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