Full statement by President Dr Irfaan Ali following the ruling of the World Court:
Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an important Order granting the provisional measures against Venezuela that Guyana requested in response to Venezuela’s announcement that it would be holding a referendum that would endorse, among other illegal measures, Venezuela’s annexation of Guyana’s Essequibo Region. The Order of the Court was unanimous, with all of the sitting Judges voting in favour of it.
The Order states:
“Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”
We welcome this unanimous ruling by the ICJ.
As the Court has made clear, Venezuela is prohibited from annexing or trespassing upon Guyanese territory or taking any other actions – regardless of the outcome of its referendum on December 3 – that would alter the status quo in which Guyana administers and controls the Essequibo Region, as an integral part of its sovereign territory, under the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899.
Today’s ruling is legally binding on Venezuela. Both the UN Charter and the Statute of the Court, to which Venezuela is a Party, require its strict compliance.
This is an opportunity for Venezuela to join Guyana in demonstrating respect for international law and the principles that govern peaceful coexistence.
Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to the international judicial process and the rule of law. It is fully confident that, when the ICJ issues its final Judgment on the merits of the case, it will conclude that the Essequibo is legally and rightfully Guyanese territory.
We believe that justice, not force, should be the arbiter of international disputes.
To this end, we affirm our dedication to pursuing a peaceful, legal resolution to this dispute in the right and proper place – the ICJ – as authorized by the UN Secretary-General in the exercise of his powers under the Geneva Agreement of 1966.
The solidarity of the international community with Guyana has been invaluable. We appeal to our sister countries of CARICOM and the broader international community to continue supporting the principles of justice and international law in relation to the controversy over Guyana’s border with Venezuela. Our collective voice can serve as a beacon for the respect of the United Nations Charter, the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
As Guyana prepares to join the UN Security Council, we are conscious of the responsibility that comes with this role – to encourage and support international peace and stability and the rule of law, and we encourage all peace-loving nations to insist on Venezuelan respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the UN’s highest court.
We are resolved to maintain our region as a Zone of Peace, and we invite all nations to join us in this noble pursuit.
December 1, 2023
I rejoice that justice, international law, case law and the jurisprudence of the ICJ have prevailed and Venezuela has been ordered to refrain from implementing its plan to invade and annexe The Essequibo Region ( that is requested in the Referendum) that the ICJ recognises the Essequibo as being under the sovereignty and exclusive control of Guyana at present.’
Venezuela has lost another round (two previous rounds on non-jurisdiction of the ICJ to litigate in this case) that is before the ICJ and the order is compulsory and failure to adhere to the order may cause the Security Council to intervene to implement the Order.
When this news reaches Caracas the proposed Consultative Referendum will be seen as an exercise in nullity and will provide traction for the Opposition to press on with its position of non-support for the five questions being posed.
The case for Guyana’s request for the issuance of Provisional measures was well presented and irrefutably convincing to the Panel of Judges who returned a Unanimous Decision stopping Venezuela from encroaching on any square inch of land of the Essequibo, nor blade of grass nor any tree.
The lamentations of the children resonated in approval at the Hague.
Guyana can now breathe a sigh of relief because this Order lasts until the matter is finally adjudicated by the ICJ.
It is note worthy that the ICJ has now given its decision that Essequibo is not in dispute at present but is a legal and integral part of the territorial jurisdiction and exclusive control of Guyana from which Venezuela cannot derogate and is legally ordered to back off and cease its useless sabre rattling on any attempt to maker it a part of Venezuela as Guyana Esequiba.
Failure of Venezuela to adhere to the Order of the court and prosecute its expansionary agenda to annex The Essequibo whilst the matter is before the ICJ will entail UN Security Council intervention.
This is the Order:
45. For these reasons,
THE COURT,
Indicates the following provisional measures:
(1) Unanimously,
Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from
taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute,
whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area;
(2) Unanimously,
Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before
the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.
Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, at the Peace Palace,
The Hague, this first day of December, two thousand and twenty-three, in three copies, one of which
will be placed in the archives of the Court and the others transmitted to the Government of the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
respectively.
(Signed) Joan E. DONOGHUE,
President.