The Government and the Opposition yesterday held discussions on the growing tensions and threat by Venezuela to this country and denounced Caracas’ planned December 3rd referendum as a violation of treaties, saying they stand “completely” united on Guyana’s sovereignty and no effort would be spared to ensure this.
“In discussing the latest actions by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in pursuit of its spurious claim to the Essequibo territory of Guyana, President Ali and Opposition Leader Mr. Norton from the outset, agreed that Guyana’s sovereignty is of paramount importance and is a matter on which the Guyanese people are all completely united,” a joint statement, following the meeting, stated.
“To this end, they condemned the flagrant violation of the rule of law by Venezuela and agreed that no effort should be spared to resist that country’s persistent endeavours to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.
The meeting which was held at the Office of the President, began shortly after 1 pm and wound up after 2:30 pm. The government’s delegation consisted of President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd.
Representing the Opposition were Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Amanza Walton-Desir, MP Geeta Chandan-Edmond and MP Tabitha Sarabo- Halley.
The statement said that President Ali and the Leader of the Opposition agreed that the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state must be served by a vigorous and comprehensive public relations programme coupled with a proactive and robust diplomatic effort aimed at blunting Venezuelan propaganda and misinformation as they relate to the territorial controversy generally, and the 1966 Geneva Agreement in particular.
They also, “reaffirmed the commitment to the current judicial process that is being conducted under the aegis of the International Court of Justice and are convinced that this would finally resolve the question raised by Venezuela over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award,” the statement said.
Further, it added, “They recalled that for more than six decades after the 1899 Arbitral Award was delivered, Venezuela treated the Award as a final settlement of the border between the two countries.”
‘Deliberate Misinterpretation’
Both sides noted that it is to this this end, it “consistently recognised, affirmed and relied upon the 1899 Arbitral Award as “a full, perfect, and final settlement” of the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela. In particular, between 1900 and 1905, Venezuela participated in a joint demarcation of the boundary, in strict adherence to the letter of the 1899 Arbitral Award, and emphatically refused to countenance even minor technical modifications of the boundary line described in the Award.”
The statement reminded of the history and that Venezuela had proceeded to formally ratify the demarcated boundary in its domestic law and thereafter published official maps, which depicted the boundary following the line described in the 1899 Award.
“In July 1931, Venezuela concluded a boundary agreement with Brazil that expressly confirmed the tri-junction point of the boundaries of British Guiana, Venezuela and Brazil as described in the 1899 Award. For more than sixty years, Venezuela gave full effect to that Award, and never raised a concern as to its validity and binding legal effects,” the statement reminded.
Both party leaders said that they “determined that the questions to be posed in the Referendum to be held by Venezuela on December 3, 2023 violated the sanctity of treaties.”
“Moreover, they are in blatant disregard of the principles of international law,” the statement contends.
Government had on Monday said that the upcoming national referendum in Venezuela on this country’s county of Essequibo would be tantamount to annexation of territory and a crime of aggression.
In a statement it had issued, it highlighted the fifth question on the referendum which seeks the “approval of the Venezuelan people to create a new state of Venezuela that incorporates the county of Essequibo into the national territory of Venezuela.” The granting of Venezuelan citizenship and identity cards to Guyanese citizens who are domiciled within the county of Essequibo amounts to annexation, says the government, and carries the potential to lead to incitement of violence, to threaten the peace and security of the State of Guyana, and by extension, the Caribbean region.
The Guyana government’s statement categorised the intended actions by the Venezuelan government as blatant violations of international law, the UN Charter, and OAS Charter. The statement continues that the Essequibo region forms part of Guyana in accordance with the 1899 Arbitral Award that demarcated the boundaries of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and then British Guiana and that any such seizure or annexation of Guyana’s territory will constitute an international crime of aggression.
The statement reminded that the affirming of the 1899 Arbitral Award was placed before the Inter-national Court of Justice, pursuant to the Geneva Agreement and to which the Government of Guyana repeatedly encouraged the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to participate. The people of Guyana, the statement reads, remain resolute against any threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country.
Yesterday, both sides agreed that Venezuela has distorted the Geneva Agreement to suit its own agenda, since “three of the set of questions to be placed before the people of Venezuela speak to the “historical position” of Venezuela “of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice to resolve the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba”; while question five seeks the approval of the Venezuelan people for the creation of a new Venezuelan State consisting of Guyana’s Essequibo Region, to include “the granting of citizenship and Venezuelan identity cards in accordance with the Geneva Agreement and International Law.”
“This is a deliberate misinterpretation of the Geneva Agreement and a clear violation of International Law. They further underscored the fact that no government or the people of one country has the right in international law to seize, annex, or conquer the territory of another country. International law emphatically prohibits this,” Guyana’s political leaders asserted.
They also acknowledged the support of the international community toward the preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and urged that Venezuela’s actions be closely monitored as they pose a serious threat to the peace and security of the hemisphere.
Updated
President Ali told Stabroek News yesterday that, “The GDF is monitoring all activities along our borders. They are paying particular attention to activities by the Venezuelan military. Our Regional and International partners are also updated on all activities.”
When the Opposition exited the meeting yesterday afternoon, Norton told reporters that both sides stand united and that it was underscored that edification of citizens on the issue should be paramount.
“The meeting was a successful meeting. We’ve been able to outline all our positions. We are unified on a number of issues, including rejecting this whole idea of a referendum; that it is pernicious; it is dangerous and it should not go forward. It’s very aggressive in nature and militarises an issue that should be for diplomatic resolution,” he said.
“We stressed the need for public education. We pointed out that even when there is public education, it is not continuous and we argued that going forward there should be continuous public education and the President agreed. He said he had begun to work on it and we’re happy,” he added.
Norton informed that the issue of Venezuelan migrants here was also discussed and this will be further discussed when the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations meets, beginning tomorrow.
“We raised the issue of Venezuelan migrants and there is an agreement that we will be provided with the information and that we will engage on this issue through the parliamentary sectoral committee on foreign relations,” he stated.
The Opposition’s Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, echoed much of what Norton said as she highlighted that the Committee would set the agenda for expected joint interaction. “Tomorrow’s meeting ought to be a very robust one. We will see coming out of it, some concrete bipartisan actions as it relates to this issue with Venezuela,” she said.
Both President Ali and Norton “agreed to keep in close consultation on this matter of national importance,” their joint statement pointed out.
Venezuela began ratcheting up tensions after Guyana announced the opening of bids for offshore blocks for oil exploration. The heightened tensions also come on the heels of a deal in Barbados between the Venezuelan government and the opposition which has resulted in an easing of US sanctions.
