The members of the UN Security Council – which also includes Guyana – yesterday expressed their concern about the possible escalation of tensions between this country and Venezuela.
In a statement, they urged the parties to exercise “maximum restraint, reminding them of their obligations to comply with the Order of Provisional Measures issued by the International Court of Justice on 1 December 2023”.
The Council also stressed the importance of maintaining regional peace and security and ensuring that the Latin America and Caribbean region remains a Zone of Peace. In this regard, it commended regional efforts which resulted in the Declaration of Peace and Dialogue of Argyle of 14 December 2023 in which Guyana and Venezuela, inter alia, agreed that any controversy between the two states will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement of 1966.
“The members of the Security Council urged the parties to resolve their differences through peaceful means and to uphold their obligations under international law and the United Nations Charter. They also stressed the importance of regional actors playing a facilitating role in easing the tensions”, the statement said.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the primacy of upholding the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity and the prohibition to any party, on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, as enshrined in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.
The statement followed a meeting by the security council last Tuesday at the request of President Irfaan Ali, to address Venezuela’s approval of the creation of a new state in Essequibo.
At that meeting, all members of the Council expressed concern about the escalating tensions between the two countries and called for the matter to be resolved through peaceful means”, one source told Stabroek News.
“They reaffirmed respect for the fundamental principles of international law including peaceful resolution of disputes. They also applauded and encouraged ongoing regional efforts. The majority of members referred to and commended the Argyle agreement. The majority of members also referred to the matter being considered in the ICJ and called for the parties to abide with the provisional measures ordered by the Court”, a source told Stabroek News.
Observers say that yesterday’s statement would be a poor return for Guyana especially considering its presence on the council and particularly as Venezuela has been the sole aggressor on the question of the border controversy between the two countries. It held a referendum last year intending to annexe Guyana’s Essequibo despite the fact that there is a live case on the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
After the ICJ issued provisional measures on December 1st last year at the request of Guyana, Venezuela still proceeded with the referendum. After this, it then proceeded to promulgate a law on the creation of a state out of Essequibo and for its defence. This was in flagrant violation of the ICJ provisional measures on December 1st which stated: “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”
