In a decisive move aimed at safeguarding its territorial integrity, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a strong warning to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The warning comes in response to Maduro’s recent activation of legislation with the intention of annexing portions of Guyana’s territory, specifically Essequibo, following a referendum held last December.
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President Ali’s declaration, made on Wednesday, underscores Guyana’s unwavering. commitment to principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, emphasizing the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He categorically stated that any attempt by Venezuela to annex Guyanese territory would not be tolerated.
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana wishes to put on notice the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Governments of the Caribbean Community and the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Nations, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the Organization of America states, that it will not countenance the annexation, seizure, or occupation of any part of its sovereign territory, President Ali reiterated. The government of Guyana condemned Maduro’s actions as a flagrant violation of international law, citing breaches of the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of American States, and customary international law. President Ali emphasized that Maduro’s maneuvers stand in stark contradiction to the spirit of the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace, a landmark agreement signed in December 2023.
In this light, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana wishes to put on notice the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the governments of the Caribbean Community and the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Nations, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, that it will not countenance the annexation, seizure, or occupation of any part of its sovereign territory, President Ali reiterated.
The statement also invoked the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which provides the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with jurisdiction to adjudicate on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award settling the land boundary between Venezuela and Guyana. President Ali stressed the importance of resolving disputes through established legal mechanisms, emphasizing the ICJ as the proper forum for contesting territory.
If Venezuela wants to contest the title to the territory in question, the proper forum is the International Court of Justice, which will decide the issue objectively and according to the law, President Ali added.
President Ali further condemned President Maduro’s offensive remarks directed at him, lamenting the detrimental impact on the commitment to good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence in the region.
President Ali’s resolute stance signals Guyana’s firm resolve to protect its territorial integrity and underscores its adherence to international law. As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments in this ongoing territorial dispute.
