GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a stern warning to the Venezuelan government under President Nicolas Maduro, asserting that Guyana will vehemently oppose any attempts to encroach upon its territory.
Ali delivered this message on Wednesday in response to Maduro’s move to enact legislation designating Essequibo as a new state following last December’s referendum.
“Guyana wishes to alert the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Governments of the Caribbean Community and the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Nations, along with the Secretary Generals of the United Nations and the Organisation of American States, that it will not tolerate the annexation, seizure, or occupation of any portion of its sovereign land. Guyana remains steadfast in its adherence to the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter, advocating for the rule of law and peaceful conflict resolution,” Ali declared.
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has taken note of Venezuela’s action on April 3, 2024, wherein President Maduro promulgated the “Organic Law for the Defense of Guayana Esequiba.”
In an official statement, Guyana’s government condemned Venezuela’s attempt to annex more than two-thirds of its sovereign territory, deeming it a blatant violation of fundamental international law principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Organisation of American States Charter, and customary international law.
This move by Maduro also directly contradicts the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace signed on December 14, 2023, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Guyana asserts that such unlawful actions call into question Venezuela’s commitment to upholding the principles of that Declaration.
“In light of these developments, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana reiterates its strong stance against any encroachment upon its sovereign territory. It calls upon the Governments of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Caribbean Community, the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Nations, as well as the Secretary Generals of the United Nations and the Organisation of American States, to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, promoting the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” the statement emphasized.
Guyana underscores that the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, as stipulated in the 1966 Geneva Agreement, will ultimately determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award settling the land boundary between the two nations. Both parties are bound to abide by the Court’s final and binding decision.
“If Venezuela wishes to challenge territorial claims, the appropriate venue is the International Court of Justice, which will impartially adjudicate the matter based on legal principles,” the statement affirmed.
Furthermore, Guyana expressed disappointment over President Maduro’s derogatory remarks towards President Ali, noting that such conduct undermines the commitment to fostering good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence, and regional unity pledged at Argyle.
