With fresh claims from Venezuela, Guyana recommits to peaceful resolution of border controversy
The Government of Guyana on Saturday recommitted to the peaceful resolution of the border controversy it has with Venezuela as articulated by President Irfaan Ali in his recent address to the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Foreign Affairs Ministry here issued a statement following fresh claims by Venezuela in a Communique issued on September 30, 2022.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it took note of the document and “stands by the statement made by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali before the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2022.”
In his words, President Ali said: “In the matter of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – challenged and threatened by Venezuela as it is, we remain – to quote the Secretary General at the opening of the General Debate yesterday – “committed to make the most of every diplomatic tool for the pacific settlement of disputes, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations”.
But in the communique issued by Venezuela, the Nicolas Maduro government rejected what it said was Guyana’s misrepresentation and manipulations regarding the controversy.
Venezuela is claiming that Dr Ali’s speech at the UNGA disrespected Venezuela’s historical and fair position and accused Guyana of fake accusations on the issue.
In this case, Guyana wants ‘judicial settlement’ as determined by the Secretary-General himself.
According to the statement from the Foreign Ministry, the world’s nations can be assured that Guyana shall remain true to those peaceful processes and deny every effort to depart from them.
The International Court of Justice has already affirmed its jurisdiction in the matter.
President Ali had said Guyana will not support any use of force to settle any dispute or controversy among nations.
Guyana is seeking to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.
This claim by Maduro is only a claim.We must defend our country and must prepare our population to understand the gravity of this challenge.
We shall use every means necessary to be “one guyana” under our 83 thousand square miles.
As we absorb the many venezuelans, and giving them a chance to live amoungst us in peace,we have the job to educate the venezuelan population of the fact that MADURO’S claim does not reflect the will of all the people of Venezuela.Right now maduro regime is but a venal body of people holding onto to power by illegal means.
So the peoples power can fire him from the job!
I await the next election free and fair AND free from FEAR.
DON GOMES
Of course the Essequibo river belongs to Gutyana. What bothers me most is the fact that a dream cold seal the faith between the borders As a matter of fact, no one knows for certain whether anyone had a dream in truth and in fact. I find that Nicolas Naduro is presumptuous and disrespectful to the Government and people of Guyana. Let him get the treatment he deserves.
Hopefully commonsense and an international adjucation as negotiated in Canada, about a century ago, prevails. If Venezuela should continue with this claim of Essequibo as theirs then things could get very ugly. Let’s hope this is not the case.
President Maduro, You lost a lot of the respect that your mentor Chavez enjoyed and he too lost a lot of respect near the end because of his duncy policies. You impoverished your people and you don’t care. Your wife goes shopping 2 times per month in Curacao in a military plane……you suffer not but Venezuelans are suffering. Even if Venezuela had some claim (they don’t) to 2/3 of Guyana no person would want to have you or someone like you as their leader. Start by changing the lessons in schools to reflect reality instead of teaching children that Essequivo is theirs …..