Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy: Guyana urges Venezuela to abandon its “imperial goal”, respect Geneva Agreement

With the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement observed on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the opportunity to urge Venezuela to abandon its “imperial goal” and to return to the judicial processes under the agreement.
In a statement, the Ministry noted the importance of the 1966 Geneva Agreement as an internationally binding document that resolved the controversy following Venezuela’s “baseless and ill-chosen” reneging on the 1899 Arbitral Award.
“It removed the roadblock to Guyana’s independence that Venezuela had, with imperial ambition, sought to erect. Under the Geneva Agreement, that controversy is now, with the approval of the international community, before the International Court of Justice in whose impartial and independent upholding of the rule of international law Guyana has absolute confidence,” the Ministry said.

“Venezuela has sought over the years to undermine the Agreement and specifically to frustrate the resolution of the controversy by the judicial process even when, as now, it is obliged to participate. As Guyana’s lawful development of its resources proceeds, it is pertinent today to emphasize that the Geneva Agreement imposes no obligation on Guyana to refrain from economic development activities in any portion of its territory or any appurtenant maritime areas.”
This is particularly pertinent as more than 30 oil finds have been made offshore Guyana in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As the world’s fastest-growing super basin in recent years, Guyana is estimated to have potential resources in excess of 25 billion barrels offshore. In the oil-rich Stabroek Block alone, which is operated by ExxonMobil and its co-venturers, there are nearly 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
To date, there have been some 35 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, where production activities have been ongoing since 2015, and a total of 40 oil finds for all blocks being explored offshore Guyana.
The Ministry noted that any unilateral attempt by Venezuela to restrict Guyana from exercising its sovereignty and sovereign rights will be a breach of the Geneva Agreement and the rule of international law.
“On this Anniversary Day of that historic Agreement, Guyana considers that no greater homage can be paid to it by our sister Republic than full compliance with its terms, including Article IV paragraph 2, pursuant to which the Secretary General of the United Nations has chosen the International Court of Justice as the means for the final and binding settlement of the controversy.”
“Guyana looks forward to Venezuela’s return to the judicial processes of the Geneva Agreement in the abandonment of its earlier imperial goal. There could be no greater mark of respect for the Agreement by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” the Ministry also said.
Guyana’s case against Venezuela is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the Spanish-speaking country has been seeking to block Guyana from having its substantive application before the ICJ heard, on spurious grounds that include its claims that the United Kingdom should have been made a party to the case, instead of Guyana. Venezuela has also claimed that the 1899 Arbitral Award is void due to what it claims was fraud committed by the UK at the time.
Guyana’s legal team is headed by Co-Agent and Counsel, Sir Shridath Ramphal, and includes a member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia, Paul S Reichler; and Professor Emeritus of the University Paris Nanterre, former Chairman of the International Law Commission and member of the Institute de Droit International, Alain Pellet.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in January 2018, decided that the case should be settled by the ICJ, after exercising the powers vested in him to decide how the controversy should be settled by the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom.
He resorted to judicial settlement after the good offices process between Guyana and Venezuela failed. Within the framework of the 1966 Geneva Agreement between the two countries, the Secretary-General conducted good offices from 1990 to 2017 to find a solution to the border controversy.
Among other things, Guyana is asking the ICJ to adjudge and declare that the 1899 Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela, that Venezuela is internationally responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence.