GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss Venezuela’s latest effort to claim the Essequibo. This oil-rich region makes up about two-thirds of Guyana and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.
Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said the UNSC would meet on Tuesday, at the request of President Irfaan Ali, to address Venezuela’s latest “violation of the rules of international law” that requires States to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of others.
Persaud said the UNSC meeting would be held against the backdrop of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order prohibiting Venezuela from taking any action interfering with Guyana’s administration of the Essequibo region.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd said that after the deliberations, Guyana would expect the UNSC to issue a strong statement that “conforms to the rule of international law.”
The Foreign Minister said that Guyana decided to ask the UNSC to discuss Venezuela’s latest actions because all nation-states subscribe to the UN Charter.
“Fundamentally, the UN Security Council is the premier organ to discuss Venezuela’s violations, which is necessary as a member of the international community,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Venezuelan parliament adopted “the Organic Law for the Defence of Guyana Essequiba,” which was condemned by the 15-member regional integration movement CARICOM and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland.
On Monday, Guyana welcomed Venezuela’s decision to submit its critical arguments to the ICJ. Doing so would allow that judicial body to “take all arguments and evidence into account and issue a more informed judgment, which will be final and binding on the parties.”
However, Venezuela defended its decision to submit its main arguments to the ICJ, saying it did not change its position of non-recognition of the Hague-based court.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “The delivery of this document does not imply Venezuela’s consent or recognition of the Court’s jurisdiction in the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba, nor of the decision it may adopt on this matter.”
Guyana asked the ICJ in 2018 to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the land boundary with Caracas.
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