During a tense meeting, the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela made a promise to refrain from using threats or force against each other. However, they were unable to come to an agreement on how to resolve a contentious conflict over a large border area that is abundant in oil and minerals and has caused concern among neighboring countries.
Instead, a committee consisting of the foreign ministers and other government officials from both nations will work towards resolving the issue and a report is anticipated to be released in three months.
The President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, and the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, have agreed to hold another meeting in Brazil within three months or at a mutually decided time. This was stated in an 11-point declaration read during a press briefing on Thursday, where no questions were allowed.
The declaration stated that they had also made an agreement to avoid escalating conflicts through words or actions.
There are concerns about a possible military altercation due to tension arising from the Essequibo border area. However, most people do not think that will occur. Venezuela claims that Essequibo was under its control during the time of Spanish colonialism and maintains that a 1966 agreement made between Venezuela, Britain, and British Guiana (now known as Guyana) invalidated a border set by international arbitrators in 1899.
The disagreement that has been ongoing for a century was sparked again due to the discovery of oil in Guyana. It further intensified when Venezuela announced that its citizens had voted in a referendum on December 3rd to claim two-thirds of their neighboring country.
The two leaders held a meeting that lasted for several hours at the primary international airport on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Several prime ministers from the Caribbean were also present.
The statement acknowledged the stalemate between Ali and Maduro. It stated that Guyana holds the belief that the border dispute should be settled by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands. However, Venezuela has not given consent to this and does not acknowledge the court or its authority in the conflict.
Both Ali and Maduro did not speak to reporters following their meeting.
Earlier today, the government of Guyana released a statement declaring that Essequibo will not be open for discussion, negotiation, or deliberation. Ali reaffirmed this stance during a press conference held while taking a break from negotiations with Maduro.
Ali declared that the country of Guyana rightfully belongs to him, gesturing to a sturdy leather bracelet on his right wrist that displayed the outline of Guyana. He asserted that no attempts at manipulating or controlling the narrative could alter this fact, as Guyana is an integral part of who he is.
Ali observed that although both sides are dedicated to maintaining peace in the area, Guyana is not the one initiating conflict.
“Guyana is not seeking war, but Guyana reserves the right to work with all of our partners to ensure the defense of our country,” he said.
Before the meeting, Maduro stated that “we will maximize the opportunity in order to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a peaceful region.”
The two leaders shook hands before beginning their discussions as their peers applauded.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, stated that officials from the Biden administration were actively keeping an eye on the escalating tensions. Kirby emphasized the need to avoid any physical confrontation, stating that it was unnecessary and that diplomats were actively involved in the situation.
Ali and Maduro initially had one-on-one meetings with prime ministers and other government representatives from the area who had advocated for the gathering in order to ease tensions.
Before the meeting, Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, stated that “in cricket terms, this is not a one-day match.”
He stated the significance of their discussion taking place in a peaceful and unbiased location such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The leader of Venezuela has commanded state-owned enterprises to investigate and utilize the resources of oil, gas, and mines in Essequibo. Both parties have placed their armed forces on high readiness.
Source: theguardian.com
