Venezuela and Guyana agreed Thursday to not resort to power as they continued to hunt a decision to a longstanding dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo area, which each international locations declare as their very own.
Following a summit held on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Guyanese counterpart Irfaan Ali “agreed that they will not directly or indirectly threaten or use force against each other under any circumstances, including those arising from any controversy existing between both states,” stated a joint declaration that was learn by Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Both international locations additionally agreed that “any dispute between the two states will be resolved in accordance with international law.”
The assertion famous Guyana’s dedication to the procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the decision of the border controversy whereas Venezuela denied its consent and indicated its lack of recognition of the ICJ and its jurisdiction within the border controversy.
The assembly between Maduro and Ali happened after months of escalating hostility that has raised fears of a possible battle over the 160,000-square-kilometer (61,776-square-mile) Essequibo area, which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
The controversy escalated after Venezuela held a unilateral referendum on Dec. 3 to annex the area, after which the Maduro authorities ordered the settlement of a navy division close to the disputed space.
The two international locations agreed to fulfill once more in Brazil within the subsequent three months “to consider any matter with implications for the territory in dispute” and create a joint fee to handle the territorial spat.
Despite the agreements, earlier Thursday, Ali stated he “made it very clear that Guyana has the right to exercise its sovereign right within its territorial space to approve of and facilitate any development, any investment, any partnership, any training, any collaboration, any cooperation, the issuing of any license and the granting of any concession within our territorial space and within our sovereign space.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
