Guyana condemns threats against sovereignty

CMC – Guyana has called on Venezuela to pursue only peaceful means to settle any disputes between them as Georgetown Wednesday condemned Caracas latest position on the border dispute between the neighbouring countries.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) said in an address to the Organization of American States (OAS) last Friday, he had recalled how the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country had been excluded from the hemispheric body for 25 years from its birth as a nation, “on account of a spurious territorial claim to two-thirds of our homeland, by Venezuela.

“But justice prevailed, and Guyana was ultimately admitted,” he said, adding “it is sad, however, that 57 years after Guyana’s Independence we remain threatened.

“Venezuela’s efforts to undermine our freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity are today before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as decided by the UN Secretary General under the Geneva Agreement of 1966.”

Ali said that the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the matter has been twice affirmed by the Court and that Guyana remains “confident” that its sovereignty and territorial integrity will also be affirmed when the Court issues its final judgement.

But he told the international community that Venezuela’s threats continue and “just last night, Guyana received a very threatening message from Venezuela.

“It came in the form of a communique attacking Guyana for putting certain oil blocks in our sovereign waters up for bid. Guyana considers this a threat to regional and international peace and security, as well as to Guyana’s investment partners”.

Last week the Guyana government announced that it had received bids for eight of the country’s oil blocks which are located offshore Guyana..

But in a statement, the Nicolas Maduro government rejected the auction  saying “the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, strongly rejects the illegal bidding round for oil blocks currently carried out by the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (Blocks for tender for 2022 – Guyana Licensing Round), since it intends to have maritime areas pending delimitation between the two countries.

In its statement, Caracas also also noted that any arbitrary concession granted would be “unacceptable” and that “these actions do not generate any type of rights to third parties who participate in such a process.”

Venezuela’ statement has already been condemned by the OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, who said the hemispheric body recognises the right of Guyana to welcome investors.

“We demand that Venezuela honors its obligation under the Charter to pursue only peaceful means to settle any disputes it may have with Guyana, including adjudication before the International Court of Justice.

“Allowing the Court to decide would ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable and in accordance with international law.  Guyana will spare no effort in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Ali tild the UNGA.

He said he is appreciative of every member of the international community that has continued to support Guyana’s efforts to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ali said that as Guyana prepares to take its seat on the UN Security Cou7ncil next January “those principles of international law and justice, so prominent in the Charter of this organisation, shall be our guide

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