Julie Chappell

After 2 weeks on holiday exploring Argentina (highly recommended!), it was back to a very busy Embassy. Here's a round-up of work on our key issues:

On El Salvador, we continue to monitor the situation closely, following the recent flooding and mudslides. I conveyed a kind message of condolence from the Queen to El Salvador's President and people (text on our website from 16 November – www.ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk). Today, I also held a meeting with Christian Aid to hear the latest on our UK-supported programme that has been helping communities in El Salvador (and previously in Honduras) prepare for disasters. The scheme includes practical help to build flood barriers that protect villages, as well as advice on e.g. developing local evacuation plans and emergency safe havens.

On Honduras, with only 2 weeks to go until elections, we're reaching crunch-point. Despite the recent Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement (see http://hondurascoup2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/tegucigalpa-san-jose-accord-translation.html for an unofficial translation), which called for a unity Government by 5 November, the two sides continue to disagree. President Zelaya has not yet appointed representatives to the Unity Government, saying he should first be returned to power. De facto President Micheletti has urged Congress and the Supreme Court to address the issue of President Zelaya’s return but says there was no timeline for this in the Agreement. The next couple of weeks will decide whether many in the International Community (including us) will be able to send observers to monitor the elections.

Consular work sadly continues to be busy. There have been a number of recent cases of violence against tourists – we help, for example, liaising with hospitals and police, and updating our travel advice to warn others. We continue to work on our leafleting campaign to help British tourists avoid trouble. The leaflets will soon be in the international airport in Guatemala City (they're A5 with a big Union Jack on the front).

And on climate change, as we approach the Copenhagen Summit in December, we have ramped up our activities with the Government, civil society, businesses and the Press to highlight the importance of an ambitious global commitment that will reduce carbon emissions and deforestation. Next week, we are hosting jointly with the French Embassy an event for Guatemala’s Copenhagen negotiating team and the Environment Ministers of Central America, who are meeting in Guatemala ahead of the Summit.

Last but certainly not least, I attended two remembrance events. I was extremely honoured to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Day service here and to host a lunch for World War II Veterans living in Guatemala. I also attended an event to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall – I remember very clearly being glued to the TV watching it all happen 20 years ago!