In addition to already dispatching formal correspondence that it objects to the spurious claims of Essequibo and to a referendum announced, the Government of Guyana on Saturday summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana Carlos Amador Pérez Silva to a meeting and voiced its position that the decision contradicts the Geneva Agreement.
“The Acting Foreign Minister met with the Ambassador of Venezuela yesterday to raise our concerns about his country’s announced referendum. They also apprised, highly, the ICJ process where we are at right now and that is consistent with the 1966 Geneva Agreement and that is what Guyana is committed to,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd told Stabroek News when contacted.
“The process is linked to the Geneva Agreement which we are conforming to and we are encouraging Venezuela to participate,” he added.
Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandall is currently acting in the capacity of Minister of Foreign Affairs, given that Todd is out of the country on travel duty. Also present at the meeting were Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and the Foreign Ministry’s Director General Elizabeth Harper.
The agreement to resolve the controversy over the frontier between Venezuela and British Guiana was signed in Geneva, Switzerland on 17 February 1966 with signatories from Venezuela, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Venezuela’s decision to hold a referendum to bolster its spurious claim to Essequibo saw a rare briefing on Saturday by President Irfaan Ali of Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, on the growing tension between the two countries, even as Guyana attracted more support from the OAS and the Commonwealth.
Following Caracas’ announcement, the government said it noted with deep concern the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a referendum on defending Caracas’s groundless claim to Guyana’s Essequibo. It said that Guyana was of the view that this has the potential to foment tension between the two states.
“Guyana considers that the only appropriate forum for Venezuela to raise its territorial claim, consistent with the rule of international law and the preservation of peace and security, is the International Court of Justice in The Hague which has already determined, twice, that it has jurisdiction to resolve the competing claims of Venezuela and Guyana to the territory in question. Resolution by the court assures both parties of a final, binding, and permanent settlement that is equitable, just and consistent with international law,” the government said.
The government extended its appreciation for the unequivocal support which it has received from friendly governments and organisations, in particular the Caribbean Community, the OAS, and the Commonwealth. It applauded their principled stand in support of the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Guyana’s strenuous efforts to this end will remain premised on respect for the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.
It added that Guyana’s concerns have been communicated to the Government of Venezuela.
