PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN EL SALVADOR

That this House congratulates the people of El Salvador on the peaceful presidential election that took place on 15 March 2009; recognises the significance of the victory of Mauricio Funes of the FMLN after 20 years of rule by the ARENA party, given that a non-violent transfer of power is a key principle of democratic states; notes that the peace accords were signed as recently as 1992, after a brutal civil war in which 75,000 people were killed; welcomes accordingly the spirit of cooperation between ordinary members of the FMLN and ARENA parties on the day of the election; and hopes that the political progress made in El Salvador can be an inspiration to other post-conflict nations across the globe.