-says it’s flagrant violation of Argyle Agreement
Guyana yesterday condemned plans by Venezuela to elect a governor of this country’s county of Essequibo and said the move was a flagrant violation of the Argyle Agreement.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the announcement by President Nicolás Maduro on January 7, 2025, regarding the election of a “Governor of the Guayana Esequiba” by “the people of Guayana Esequiba” constitutes a direct violation of the commitments in the Argyle Agreement of December 14, 2023 in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This unilateral action disregards the spirit of the Argyle Agreement, undermines the agreed framework for dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and significantly escalates tensions between our nations.
“The people of Guyana’s Essequibo region are Guyanese nationals who live in Guyana’s sovereign territory. It would be a flagrant violation of the most fundamental principles of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter, for Venezuela to attempt to conduct an election in Guyanese territory involving the participation of Guyanese nationals”, the ministry said.
It also pointed out that Maduro – who is to be sworn in for another term in office tomorrow following controversial elections – is also in violation of an order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) .
“The ICJ, in its Order dated December 1, 2023, directed that Venezuela shall refrain from any actions that would modify the situation prevailing in the disputed territory, which is currently administered by Guyana. The Order also emphasized that both States must avoid actions that might aggravate or extend the dispute or make it more difficult to resolve.
“President Maduro’s statement, coupled with any actions to integrate the Essequibo region into Venezuela’s administrative framework, including by calling for an election `by the people of Guayana Esequiba’ of a governor of `Guayana Esequiba,’ represents a blatant disregard for this binding Order”, the ministry said.
It added that such actions not only jeopardize the judicial process but also undermine the authority of the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Reserves
The statement said that Guyana reserves the right to ask the Court for additional provisional measures in the event that Venezuela takes any steps toward conducting its so-called “election” in Guyanese territory or involving Guyanese nationals.
Guyana urged Venezuela to immediately desist from all actions that contravene the Argyle Agreement and the ICJ Order and to recommit to the principles of international law and peaceful dispute resolution to which it agreed at Argyle.
Guyana says it remains prepared to engage in constructive dialogue under the agreed frameworks, but it cannot condone or accept unilateral actions that threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana requests assurances from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that it will respect its international obligations and refrain from further actions that undermine the peaceful resolution of this longstanding controversy. In conformity with international law”, the statement added.
Amid aggression by Venezuela against Guyana in 2023, President Irfaan Ali and President Maduro signed the Argyle Agreement in St Vincent. It was sealed in the presence of regional and international interlocutors and unequivocally committed Guyana and Venezuela to refrain from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from the territorial controversy between the two States. This includes refraining from actions that could aggravate tensions or alter the current situation in Essequibo, pending resolution in accordance with international law.
Critics had questioned the wisdom of the signing of the Argyle Agreement which has not seen the implementation of the steps that were set out.
Since the signing, Caracas has also embarked on a series of threatening measures including the building of a bridge to Ankoko Island, Guyana’s half of which Venezuela seized militarily in 1966. Ministers of Defence and Transport of Venezuela opened the bridge last month.
On April 3, 2024, Maduro also promulgated ‘the Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba’
In a February 9th 2024 analysis, US think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published satellite images of a military buildup on the Venezuelan side of the border which it said strongly supported its hypothesis of `compellence’ where Caracas was seeking to wrest concessions from Guyana such as possible joint exploration of natural resources.
Tensions between the two countries reached a boiling point in 2023 after a Venezuelan referendum was held on December 3rd seeking the annexation of Guyana’s Essequibo. The ensuing friction led to the convening of the high-level Argyle meeting on December 14th in St Vincent which yielded a declaration in which both countries eschewed the use of force or threat of the use of force in resolving issues between them.
In the historic face-to-face meeting with Maduro, President Ali had made it “clear” to his Venezuelan counterpart, that no activity whatsoever, including joint initiatives would be allowed in the 160,000-square kilometre Essequibo area without this country’s approval.
Both sides agreed not to use force against each other in any circumstance, a key development for Georgetown in the light of months of tension over Caracas’ staging of a referendum on Essequibo and its subsequent decision to annex the county which makes up five-eighths of this country.
The presidents had held a series of talks in St Vincent before final approval of an 11-point joint declaration which said that they both “Agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.”
Hammered out in the presence of high-level interlocutors including host, Vincentian Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves; Celso Amorim, special envoy of the Brazilian President; and Dominican Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit, the two leaders also agreed that any controversies between the two states would be settled in accordance with international law including the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966.
Noted in the Joint Declaration was this country’s assertion that it is committed to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the resolution of the border controversy. Also noted was Venezuela’s assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of the ICJ and its jurisdiction in the border controversy.
In the presence of other invitees including Colombia’s Foreign Minister, Alvaro Leyva Durán, the two Presidents also agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending matters of mutual importance to the two countries.
Also agreed at the Argyle Airport was that both States will refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.
“The two States will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground conducive to tension between them. In the event of such an incident the two States will immediately communicate with one another, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), and the President of Brazil to contain, reverse and prevent its recurrence,” the declaration stated.
Both States also agreed that Prime Minister Gonsalves, the Pro-Tempore President of CELAC; Prime Minister Skerrit, the incumbent CARICOM Chairman; and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil; will remain seized of the matter as Interlocutors and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres as Observer, with the ongoing agreement of Presidents Ali and Maduro.