Then our problem is economic, social and agrarian as in most Latin American countries. The current problem is ungovernability, which does not necessarily puts democracy at stake but our fragile democracies do need strengthening and not weaknesses. The issue is quite simple: the central government has suffered some attrition during its first year, and the Congress of the Republic, that is, the legislative assembly of which I am part and vice chair, has also stained its image due to the alleged amendment of a law. Then, there are many deputies –22 exactly- among them the president of the legislative assembly, General Efraín Ríos Mont, with questions before the courts. This has hugely weakened governability in itself. The business sector, for its part, is facing government for a series of privileges have been removed, and so is the printed press. All this entails a crisis of governability.

Apart from the political crisis you described, can Guatemala today, with soaring corruption and a weak infrastructure, reach economic sustained growth?

Hardly. Two problems coexist here. First, you touched on an issue I did not address but that constitutes the major enemy of our fragile democracies: corruption. Recent polls show that unfortunately many governments get a low rating here. I am proud to say this is not the case of my transitional government. It is truly regrettable this corruption levels should be unleashing for along with the lack of social and economic results is totally disappointing for the people. This is dangerous because the people, who want to see results, social welfare funds, education, housing, health, so on and so forth, are disappointed and wonder, ‘what is democracy offering us?’. If the people lose hope, then they start crying for dictatorships and the ‘security’ offered by the militaries, which is totally dangerous. This plus hunger, social exclusion and unemployment is very difficult. If we add globalization, that neoliberalism that lacks a human and social face, we will hardly move ahead and achieve socio-economic development. Specially, in a country like ours, where most of the people are aborigines with a millenary Mayan culture but with social and economic underdevelopment and a mostly illiterate population –and hard to educate because there are 23 nationalities and 23 Mayan languages.

Tracing past times, Guatemala has historically had the necessary conditions to lead a Central American project. Could we say there is a Central American project in the Guatemalan political leadership?

This is one of the current problems. We are countries that cannot walk out of a crisis alone. United…perhaps. We have the need to get together if we want to face that globality successfully. It is as if a train was passing right before us and we must jump on it. We must not forget we are neighbors to the world’s most powerful economic area, the FTA composed of Mexico, Canada and the United States. This has its dark and bright sides. If we are not economically prepared and consolidated, it will sweep us out. Specially Mexico through the selling of its products and the United States too. They stand as an obstacle to our products.

Together we can make headway, but this is still hard to achieve. There is a Central American Parliament based in Panama but there are economic interests –though it sounds weird and paradoxical- that have stopped us from getting together. But Guatemala is still the pioneer, the nation that is growing the most. We lacked political development but now we can have the much-expected leadership that due to 36 years of war and guerrillas among other things, prevented us from being in line with Costa Rica. Today, in terms of democracy, we can be on an equal footing with that nation we look up so much and that has maintained its democracy for 50 years.

For one thing, you spoke about Guatemala’s ungovernability and for another, you support the idea of Guatemala leading the region. After the Summit of the Americas, what are the country’s expectations toward the FTAA and the possibility of integrating with the rest of Latin America?

First and foremost we should discuss with the closest economic powers the possibility for us to pioneer the introduction of our products. We are not in condition to ask for ‘gifts’, we need to be able to compete. To get our vegetables, fruits and flowers into the United States, especially non-traditional products- Centro America encounters roadblocks.

The US-Canada Free Trade Area is protectionist so hopes today lie on our leaders’ skill to open up those closed or semi-closed gates. Other issues also include the major scourge of the present: drug-related activities, that is, drug crops, consumption and trafficking. Now is the right moment to face this organized crime together. Although we are neither producers nor consumers, we are halfway between producers and consumers and prone to fall prey of money laundering. We still can beat it but it will only be possible with the help of the United States and other powerful countries.

How would you define your personal expectations toward politics?

I had already made the decision to retire, wrote my memoirs and was devoted to working with my sons, who are lawyers, from a Foundation named after me. I founded the ‘Action Experience Forum’ -with other former presidents of Central America- which I wanted to move to South America as well. However, I was persuaded to return to politics and so now I’m trying to contribute with the experience of some many years. Mi hopes and projects go beyond Guatemala. The major issue of concern is immigration. I am trying to carry out a project for the defense of human rights of immigrants who must move from Latin America to the United States on political or economic grounds and whose dignity and rights are undermined and violated.

I think this may be last project of my life –though I never know for sure which the last will be- but my political expectations nationally is coming to an end. We must let room and chances for new generations. I guess I’ll retire in a few years and get engaged in this sort of projects such as immigration since I have offers from the Bushes, Hillary Clinton and President Fox. We are speaking of some 30 million Hispanics living in the United States, who encounter not the American dream but a flagrant violation to their dignity. Today, circumstances have led to once more to take part in politics but fortunately re-election does not exist here so everything I do in politics is not because I want to be President again. I do it heartily, trying to contribute with my experience. I guess now it’s time for me to move onto international issues.