KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC -The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) said it welcomes any effort to bring a long-lasting resolution to the Venezuela-Guyana border conflict amidst Caracas’ threats of annexation of two-thirds of Guyana.
NDP and Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday said that while he is not naive about the talks here on Thursday between President Irfaan Ali and Nicolas Maduro, he is hoping that, at the minimum, Venezuela would accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve the border dispute.
“My view and the view of the New Democratic Party is that any discussion that has the possibility, or the hope, the intention, the purpose of seeking to bring a peaceful resolution to this dispute is to be pursued,” Friday said on his party’s radio program.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced over the last weekend Ali and Maduro had agreed to face-to-face talks here on Thursday, starting at 10.00 am (local time).
Brazilian President Lula da Silva, whose country shares a border with Guyana and Venezuela and who had been invited to the meeting, has since indicated he could not attend.
Friday told listeners that “we are not starry-eyed and thinking that this is an easy process or that the talks initiated on Thursday…have to have clear objectives as to what is to be achieved.”
He noted the history of the conflict, which dates back to the 19th century, and that Ali has stated that Guyana’s borders are not up for discussion and that the ICJ will resolve the conflict.
Friday said most countries in the world, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional bloc of nations of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana are members, also support that position.
“… and that is the position certainly of the New Democratic Party. We want to see a peaceful resolution to this dispute,” he said and urged Venezuela to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ in the matter.
“We have heard much talk about this world area being a zone of peace. And it is something that all of us, in the Caribbean and Latin America, would wish to see continue,” Friday said, in the context of Venezuela’s declaration of the annexation of the disputed Essequibo region.
“But it takes a lot of effort on the part of both parties to be patient and not to do anything that will escalate the situation, as presently it has been done by Venezuela,” Friday said.
“Nobody should want to see this matter descend into violence and conflict. There are too many wars in the world right now,” Friday said, adding that he agrees with the statement by Brazil that there needs to be good faith on both sides and for all the parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
“I will not diminish or detract from efforts to seek a peaceful resolution. I may have views and doubts about how successful these efforts may be or how they may pan out. But ultimately, any effort that seeks to bring a peaceful resolution to this dispute, those are the efforts that should be pursued,” Friday said.
“Violence and conflict is not the way to go. We know of an established procedure that has been given the blessing of the Secretary General of the UN: the International Court of Justice. CARICOM has also urged using that process, that is to say, the International Court of Justice, as the means of resolving this conflict.
“Guyana has said that they are willing. Now, it is our hope and our urging that Venezuela will adopt a similar course. And if that is achieved, at least at their meeting this week here in St. Vincent, that would be a good thing.”
The Opposition Leader said he hoped there would be “a positive outlook” on the conflict after the meeting this week.
“We have to. As people who are committed to the peaceful resolution of conflict, to the use and the integrity of the international system, the enforcement of the rule of law and international law, and all of those for us as small countries, we rely on the multilateral agencies to ensure that there is fairness and justice in the international community. And this is why I believe any talks that intend a peaceful conflict resolution are to be pursued.”
He noted that Guyana had stated its position, adding that he had yet to hear much regarding the expectations of the Venezuelan government ahead of the talks on Thursday.
“What I have heard are the statements that were made by the president of Venezuela, to his domestic audience, I suppose, and to whomever else in the world that may favor that position, about annexing a portion of the Essequibo region, of imposing a system of government there, of exploiting the resources and giving license and treating it, essentially, as its Venezuelan territory. That is not the case. It is the territory of Guyana, as it is now established.”
Friday said anything else that says otherwise or any actions by Venezuela contrary to that “is a violation or with intent to violate the sovereignty of Guyana, and the territorial integrity of Guyana.
“And that is something that we in the New Democratic Party will not, cannot support and will condemn.”
He said the problem is “delicate,” adding, “If you listen to the speeches of President Ali, you see the concern expressed around the world for how this problem, this dispute, has escalated so rapidly and really at the primary source of the escalation has come from Venezuela.
“And so, the pressure has to be there; the advice has to be there; the good offices, wherever they are and they exist, have to be brought to bear to ensure that they do not escalate the situation any further and that the matter is dealt with peacefully and legally according to international law, according to accepted international practice.”
Friday said CARICOM must be resolute in supporting Guyana “because that is a legal position, as it is now established, that the territory of Essequibo is part of Guyana.
“And I don’t know how else we can look at it fairly and justly,” Friday told radio listeners.
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