UPDATE GUYANA-Guyana “gravely concerned” at moves by Venezuela to claim Essequibo

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

“This is a 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. The ministry noted that Essequibo makes up about two-thirds of the country and is home to 125,000 of its 800,000 citizens.

It added, “It is also an egregious violation of the Order on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice on December 1, 2023, and of the Argyle Declaration of December 14, 2023, agreed to by the leaders of CAR1COM and Brazil, the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, and the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela.”

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

According to the joint declaration, the two leaders are committed to pursuing good neighborliness, 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 resolving the border controversy, as well as Venezuela’s assertion of its lack of consent and recognition of the ICJ and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.

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 its efforts under international law to ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact.

“Guyana calls on 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 yet to respond to Guyana’s statement.