UN Secrteary General meets with Guyana's Foreign Minister

Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres met Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge yesterday at UN Headquarters in New York.

The meeting was a closed door one. Only a photo opportunity was available to the press. The meeting may have been a briefing from the Foreign Minister about Guyana’s official application to the International Court to get a final settlement on the border controversy with Venezuela.

The official application was filed by the Foreign Minister in The Hague last week. It has since been published on the ICJ’s website.

In the application, Guyana is asking the Court to declare that the 1899 Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela, and the boundary established by that Award and the 1905 Agreement is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela.

Additionally, wants to enjoyt full sovereignty over the territory between the Essequibo River and the boundary established by the 1899 Award and the 1905 Agreement as Venezuela enjoys full sovereignty over the territory west of that boundary.

“Guyana and Venezuela are under an obligation to fully respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with the boundary established by the 1899 Award and the 1905 Agreement”, the application notes.

Additionally, the International Court is being asked to also rule that Venezuela shall immediately withdraw from and cease its occupation of the eastern half of the Island of Ankoko, and each and every other territory which is recognized as Guyana’s sovereign territory in accordance with the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement.

Guyana also wants the Court to declare that Venezuela shall refrain from threatening or using force against any person and/or company licensed by Guyana to engage in economic or commercial activity in Guyanese territory as determined by the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement, or in any maritime areas appurtenant to such territory over which Guyana has sovereignty or exercises sovereign rights, and shall not interfere with any Guyanese or Guyanese-authorised activities in those areas.

Additionally, Guyana wants a declaration that Venezuela is internationally responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence.

The Foreign Minister has said the court case will be lengthy, but the Government will keep the Guyanese public up to date with all of the developments.

CLICK BELOW FOR FULL COURT APPLICATION:

Guyana Court Case -ICJ