Guyana ‘gravely concerned’ over new moves by Venezuela to claim Essequibo region

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government Friday said it is “gravely concerned” at the decision of the National Assembly in Venezuela to adopt a law declaring the Essequibo region to be a constituent part of the country.

“This is in flagrant violation of Guyana's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is in breach of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement, noting that the Essequibo makes up about two-thirds of the country and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.

“It is also an egregious violation of the Order on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023 and it is a violation of the Argyle Declaration of December 14, 2023 agreed to by the leaders of CARICOM and Brazil, the representative of the United Nations Secretary General and by the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela,” it added.

The Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela said that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” between them will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

The Joint Declaration issued following talks in Kingstown, St Vincent last December between President Irfaan Ali and President Nicolas Maduro over the disputed Essequibo region, also indicated that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” between them will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

According to the joint declaration, the two leaders said they are committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.

They noted Guyana's assertion that it is committed to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the resolution of the border controversy as well as noting Venezuela's assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of the ICJ and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.

In its statement, the Guyana government said it remains committed to peace on its borders and in the region.

“It will not allow its sovereignty and territorial territory to be usurped. Guyana will exert all of its efforts under international law to ensure that its sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact.

“Guyana calls for the international community to uphold the rule of law by rejecting Venezuela's illegal expansionism and by insisting that Venezuela revert to the International Court of Justice which has before it the case for a full and final resolution of the controversy over the land border between the two countries,” the statement said.

Caracas has not responded to the statement by Guyana.

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