The United States yesterday declared support for the World Court ruling that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s case for a juridical settlement of the long-running border controversy with Venezuela.
The US statement came amid belligerent declarations by Venezue-lan President Nicolas Maduro against the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in December last year and the issuing of a decree by Caracas purporting to annex the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.
Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak tweeted: “The U.S. supports the ICJ’s 12/18 ruling that it has jurisdiction in the Guyana-Venezuela territorial border issue, which is the legal and peaceful way forward. Maduro’s aggressive claims don’t change this, they only show the world his disregard for his neighbors and intl. law”.
Meanwhile, in a statement on the US embassy Facebook page, US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch said “The United States has long called for a legal peaceful resolution to Guyana’s border controversy with Venezuela and we reiterate that call today”.
Maduro’s actions and bellicose statements drew a sharp response on Saturday from President Irfaan Ali.
In an address to the nation, Ali said Maduro’s statements amounted to a “legal nullity”.
He also said that Guyana has summoned the Officer-in-Charge of the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown to a meeting and alerted the International Community, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Americas, of the danger to international peace and security that is being threatened by last Thursday’s decree, which violates fundamental principles of international law.
“The Officer-in-Charge has been told to convey to the Venezuelan authorities in Caracas, that, in accordance with international law, and is assertion of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guyana rejects entirely the decree issued by President Maduro,” Ali shared.
