Guyana will not be bullied by Venezuela – President Ali

…tells Essequibians Govt guided by ICJ

In light of Venezuela’s renewed claims earlier this week over the Essequibo region, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday declared that Guyana will not become a sacrificial lamb in any political negotiation between the Venezuelan Government and its Opposition.

His comment comes on the heels of the two Venezuelan political sides ratifying partial agreements to reinforce the country’s illegal claim to Guyana’s Essequibo.
But during an outreach in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), the Guyanese Leader asserted that Guyana will not be bullied by its Spanish neighbour. He told residents in Essequibo that his Government will continue to respect the rule of law and follow the correct procedure through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“We will not be bullied. We will not be used as a sacrificial lamb in any negotiations currently in Venezuela. Our position is very clear. We are very clear,” he posited while addressing a gathering in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
After a failed good offices process between the two South American neighbours, Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres in 2018 had referred the border controversy matter to be resolved by the ICJ.

Shortly after, Guyana filed a case seeking a final and binding judgement to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties, and legal affirmation that the Essequibo region, which contains much of Guyana’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.
The Spanish-speaking nation is laying claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in Essequibo and a portion of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in which more than nine billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past six years.
The world court ruled last December that it has jurisdiction to decide on Guyana’s claim that the boundary between the two States was fixed in the 1899 Arbitral Award.
But Venezuela has been refusing to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ and despite the case still pending before the ICJ, the Spanish-speaking country went ahead and renewed territorial claims over the Essequibo region on Monday during a meeting between Government and Opposition officials in Mexico City.
However, President Ali contended on Friday that the issue of the world court’s jurisdiction has already been determined and settled, and that none of the propaganda being peddled by Venezuela matters.
“The international community is clear, Caricom is clear that the International Court (ICJ) has jurisdiction to hear the matter. So, the propaganda that the court does not have the jurisdiction – we’ve gone past that,” he asserted.
The Head of State went on to say that his Government will focus on the rule of law and continue to respect it.

“The court has already ruled that they have jurisdiction and that is where all of our efforts are concentrated. There is no sideshow, there is no propaganda. None of that matters. What matters is the court and that is where Guyana is,” the Guyanese Leader posited.
Nevertheless, President Ali explained that Guyana is committed to living peacefully with all of its neighbours and to strengthen the relationships will them all, but stated that this position must be reciprocated.
“We’re committed to democracy. We are committed to the rule of law…we don’t waver our principles. We don’t waiver depending on the season, we don’t waver depending on who is in Government… we have always respected the rule of law. We have always worked in accordance with the rule of law, we have always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our neighbours,” he noted.
The Venezuelan Government and political Opposition met in Mexico earlier this week to iron out their differences at home. It was supposed to be a discussion about Venezuela’s domestic politics, with a number of other countries, including the Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, Norway and Bolivia taking part.
But instead, the two sides ratified partial agreements reinforcing Venezuela’s illegal claim to Essequibo – something which has been rejected by both the Guyana Government and the APNU/AFC Opposition, who on Wednesday stood united in reaffirming Guyana’s sovereignty.
“Guyana cannot be used as an altar of sacrifice for settlement of Venezuela’s internal political differences. While the Government of Guyana welcomes domestic accord within Venezuela, an agreement defying international law and process is not a basis for mediating harmony… That agreement is an overt threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana,” the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir, in a statement said the Opposition supports the peaceful settlement and national approach towards the border controversy.
“The APNU+AFC Coalition takes this opportunity to reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, and to remind that the Guyana/Venezuela controversy remains before the International Court of Justice for resolution. We reiterate our faith in the rule of international law in pursuit of a peaceful settlement in this regard, and our continued support of a national approach to safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty,” the statement read.
Back in March 2021, the ICJ had granted Guyana until March 8, 2022, to file its written submissions for the case, after requesting 12 months. Venezuela was given until March 8, 2023, to submit its counter-memorial. (G8)