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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, 1-404-420-5124 or soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

ATLANTA — On Oct. 21, The Carter Center will send a small, high-level political delegation to Guatemala City ahead of Sunday's runoff presidential election. The delegation will be led by Jorge Castañeda, a former Mexican minister of foreign affairs, and John Maisto, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States — both members of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter — and by Jennie Lincoln, director of the Center's Americas Program.

The presence of the delegation does not constitute an electoral observation but is an expression of the international community's high interest in Guatemala's democratic process. The delegation aims to promote and encourage the authorities and political and social actors in Guatemala to participate in the election and carry out their civic duty based on respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions.

A Carter Center delegation was in the country for the first round of voting on Sept. 6, when, despite a climate of political uncertainty and concerns over potential eruptions of violence, a record 70 percent of Guatemalans cast ballots. This was the highest turnout since Guatemala's transition to democracy in 1985, demonstrating the importance the Guatemalan people placed upon the election. The Carter Center encourages citizens to replicate the historic voter turnout in the Oct. 25 runoff.

About the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter

The Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter group is composed of former presidents, prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and human rights leaders from the Western Hemisphere who seek to increase the visibility of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and to prevent democratic tensions from erupting into crises. The Friends visit countries to assess democratic tensions, encourage citizens and governments to make use of international resources to defend their democracies and to resolve constitutional conflicts, and recommend ways for the OAS to apply the charter in a constructive and preventative manner. The Carter Center serves as secretariat for the Friends.

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care.  The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.

Translations

Delegación de Alto Nivel del Centro Carter estará presente para las Elecciones en Guatemala