Brazil wants Guyana/Venezuela controversy to be resolved permanently
Brazil’s Defence Minister, Raul Jungmann Pinto, who is leading a delegation to Guyana, says he wants to see the controversy with Venezuela resolved permanently and in a diplomatic manner, which can be achieved at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) noted on Saturday evening, February 10, 2018.
“This, he said, is vital for the stability of the South American continent,” the MOTP release stated.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has referred the long-running controversy to the ICJ after no significant progress was made in the Good Offices Process.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge recently assured that the Guyana Government is in full preparation mode to head to the World Court and according to the MOTP release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its advisory team have had meetings with lawyers to map out options.
The Brazilian Defence Minister and his team are in Guyana as the neigbours celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties. Guyana’s Head of State, President David Granger on Friday honoured the Defence Minister with the Cacique’s Crown of Honour, Guyana’s third highest national award.
According to the MOTP release, during their visit, Minister Jungmann and his delegation again placed on record Brazil’s support for Guyana.
“Minister Jungmann said that Brazil has the third largest border in South America and the world at large and it has frontier with 10 countries,” the Government release noted.
It was noted that Guyana has been assured of the support for all diplomatic measures by Brazil, which has time and time again indicated that it has no interest in changing settled and established boundaries on the continent.
Guyana continues to enjoy friendly relations with Brazil and in a tangible demonstration of this commitment, the two countries, in November last year, undertook a project to remark the borders they share, the release noted.
“This exercise solidified the friendship between the two countries and a demonstration of mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. President David Granger described Brazil, over the past 50 years, has been a guarantor of Guyana’s territory,” the MOTP release stated.
Brazil’s support for Guyana was again reaffirmed in December last year when President Granger met with the President of Brazil, Mr. Michel Temer. Following that State Visit and Guyana’s attendance at the MERCOSUR Summit held in Brazil at the same time, Minister Greenidge said that Brazil was updated on Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Award is null and void, and informed that the country remains resolute in its original position.
In 2015, two decrees issued by Venezuela purported that country’s claim on most of Guyana’s exclusive economic zone.