EPAThe president of the parliament in Venezuela shows a map on which Essequibo is part of Venezuela
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 02:28
The presidents of Guyana and Venezuela have promised that they will talk to each other next Thursday about the border conflict between the South American countries. The dispute revolves around the oil-rich Essequibo region in Guyana, which is claimed by both countries.
The meeting takes place at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the country where the consultations will also take place. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines currently chairs the CELAC regional partnership. Venezuela and Guyana also want Brazilian President Lula to participate.
The Venezuelan government wants the meeting to “maintain our ambition to keep peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Guyana’s president says his country’s border is not up for debate.
NOS
The dispute over Essequibo has been going on for centuries, but has flared up due to a referendum in Venezuela. Residents were able to speak out last weekend about annexing the border region. According to the electoral council, 10.5 million people went to the polls and 95 percent voted for incorporation.
It is not clear what Venezuelan President Maduro wants with the result, but Guyana and the international community are concerned. The US, Britain, Russia and South American countries, among others, have urged a peaceful solution. The UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on the conflict on Friday.
Soldiers at border
Venezuela and Guyana both border Brazil, which has sent additional troops to its northern border due to increased tensions. Brazilian President Lula maintains good ties with his Venezuelan counterpart Maduro and has repeatedly called on him to de-escalate.
The Essequibo region covers about two-thirds of Guyana. In 1899, an international arbitration committee determined that the area belonged to Guyana, but Venezuela disagreed. The conflict simmered for a long time, until large oil fields were discovered in Guyana in 2015. The country is also rich in gold and gas, among other things.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague has been working on the issue for years, but a final ruling has not yet been made. Until then, Venezuela must respect the 1899 division, the court finds.
2023-12-10 01:28:48
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