Beijing, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and Guyana's Irfan Ali issued a joint statement after their meeting on Dec. 14, pledging not to use force to resolve the territorial dispute between the two countries under any circumstances.
The two leaders did not agree on how to resolve the dispute over sovereignty over the Ethiopian region in accordance with international law, but pledged to avoid tensions and maintain peace in the region.
Maduro, Venezuela**, speaks at the 6th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Mexico City, Mexico, September 18, 2021. Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of Venezuelan News Agency).
Peacekeeping. Maduro and Ali met in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on the same day to start dialogue on the territorial dispute between the two countries and reach a partial peace agreement.
The Associated Press reported that the meeting took place at an airport on the island of St. Vincent and lasted several hours. A number of leaders of Caribbean countries attended, including the host Prime Minister, Ralph Gonzavis. Earlier in the day, Maduro and Ali met with them separately.
Before the meeting began, Maduro and Ali were surrounded by other leaders who applauded.
At a news conference that night, Gonzavis read out a joint statement saying that Venezuela and Guyana agreed not to threaten or use force under any circumstances, including matters involving existing disputes between the two countries.
According to the joint statement, both sides expressed their intention to de-escalate tensions, agreed to avoid any incident that could escalate tensions in the disputed areas, and pledged to find ways to coexist peacefully and promote regional unity.
Ali gave an interview on the sidelines of the meeting, saying that both countries are committed to maintaining peace in the region. Maduro also said before the meeting: "We will do everything we can to keep peace in Latin America and the Caribbean." ”
The two agreed to hold another dialogue in Brazil within three months on matters related to the Ethiopian dispute. Brazil** Luis Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his willingness to host the relevant international conference last week.
On 7 December, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lula of Brazil addressed the 63rd Summit of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Tiancong.
Divisions remain. The two leaders agreed to immediately set up a joint committee composed of the two countries' ministers and other technical experts to discuss how to resolve the territorial dispute and complete a report within three months, the joint statement said.
The joint statement said the two sides agreed to "settle any dispute between the two countries in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement signed on 17 February 1966." The agreement, signed by the authorities of Venezuela, the United Kingdom and British Guiana at the time, provided for a series of dispute settlement mechanisms. Guyana became independent in May 1966.
However, the joint statement made no mention of how the territorial dispute between the two countries could be resolved in accordance with international law. According to the Associated Press, this shows the deadlock between Ali and Maduro over the sovereignty dispute in the Essequibo region. Guyana has long advocated a decision by the United Nations International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands, while Venezuela has advocated bilateral negotiations without the Court's involvement in the dispute.
Maduro and Ali did not give an interview after the meeting on the 14th.
Guyana** issued a statement earlier in the day saying that sovereignty over the Essequibo region was "not subject to discussion, negotiation or consideration." In an interview, Ali showed a wristband on his right wrist embroidered with the outline of Essequibo, saying that "all of this belongs to Guyana". "Guyana does not seek war, but reserves the right to work with all our partners to ensure that we are the best of the best. ”
The Essequibo region is rich in natural resources such as oil and gas, minerals, etc. Venezuela and Guyana have long been at odds over sovereignty over the region. Venezuela held a referendum on the 3rd of this month, and 95% of the voters who voted supported the claim to sovereignty over the Essequibo region. Maduro proposed legislation on the 5th, planning to include the Essequibo region in the territory. The armies of Guyana and Venezuela were put on alert, respectively.
U.S. Southern Command and the Guyana military held a joint military Xi in the Essequibo region last week. A number of regional organizations and countries in Latin America have expressed their stance and advocate resolving the territorial dispute between the two countries through dialogue. (Hu Ruoyu).