Guyana-Venezuela border controversy: Guyana will continue to champion int’l law for peaceful resolution – Pres Ali tells OAS

– says acceptance of established borders has been a tradition in hemisphere

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday reiterated Guyana’s commitment towards pursuing a peaceful resolution of the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Head of State gave this assurance during an address to the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Protocolary Meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday morning.
President Ali stated that Guyana firmly believes that peaceful settlement of disputes is not merely an option, but a duty and a cornerstone principle of the OAS Charter.
“Guyana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principles enshrined in both the OAS and UN (United Nations) Charter. We will continue to champion the cause of international law as we seek a lasting, peaceful resolution to the territorial claim, one that was resurrected on the brink of our independence after decades of acceptance,” the Guyanese leader said during his address.
According to the President, Guyana’s aspiration to join the OAS following its independence in 1966 was overshadowed by and delayed for 25 years due to Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of its landmass. He noted that after years of consistent diplomatic work, prolonged negotiations, and unwavering commitment to its sovereign rights, Guyana finally became a member in January 1991.
Despite this, however, the territorial claim remains a relic of history that challenged Guyana’s peace, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. The Guyanese leader noted that throughout its existence as an independent State, Guyana has endured acts of aggression that threatened its territorial integrity and intimidated and discouraged investments which stunted the country’s growth and development.
“To face that adversity and aggression, Guyana, drawing inspiration from the Charters of the OAS and the United Nations, has consistently pursued the path of peaceful resolution of this unfounded claim. Our acceptance of the decision of UN Secretary-General Guterres, to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice, which is currently hearing the case, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to those principles.”
“Our stance mirrors the ethos of this very organisation that disputes should be settled peacefully in furtherance of international law… The rich tapestry of the Americas has been woven with threads of mutual respect and recognition of sovereignty. Accepting established borders has been the tradition in our hemisphere, a tradition that has shielded our nations from conflicts, paving the way for peace, cooperation and development,” President Ali contended.
Venezuela is laying claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, which is in Essequibo, and a portion of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past eight years and oil production activities are ongoing.
In 2018, Guyana moved to the World Court after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela and the failed good offices process between the two South American neighbours. Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling on the October 3, 1899, Arbitral Award to settle the long-standing border controversy.
Having rejected both of Venezuela’s preliminary objections, the ICJ in April this year set April 8, 2024, as the time limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Venezuela.
Venezuela had initially refused to participate in the proceedings and had even challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. But on December 18, 2020, the ICJ established that it has jurisdiction to hear the substantive case – something which Venezuela did not accept, hence its preliminary objections in June 2022.
In a move that delayed the substantive hearing of the border case, Venezuela had, in June 2022, filed preliminary objections claiming that the case is improperly before the court.
It argued that such a case should not have been brought by Guyana, but by the United Kingdom, the then Great Britain, which had signed the 1899 Arbitral Award with Venezuela to demarcate Guyana’s boundaries – Guyana then being one of Britain’s colonies, known as British Guiana at that time.
Guyana and Venezuela have both presented submissions on this matter before the World Court in November 2022. In April 2023, by 14 votes to one, the ICJ rejected Venezuela’s preliminary objection with respect to Guyana not being the proper party to ask the court to bring finality to the issue.
Guyana is, among other things, asking the ICJ to declare that the 1899 Arbitral Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela and that the latter is internationally responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereign rights and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence.
Friday’s Protocolary Meeting of the Permanent Council of the OAS at its headquarters in Washington, DC, was convened to receive President Ali, who updated regional officials on Guyana’s unprecedented development.
In addition to the meeting session, brief discussions were also held with the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, and the high-level team led by the Guyanese leader.
Accompanying President Ali were Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond; Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; and Guyana’s Ambassador to the USA, Samuel Hinds. (G-8)