Maduro to US: “Take your hands off of the Guyana Essequibo”

Mr. Maduro has been quoted by Venezuela's Telesur English News Network as saying that "United States, take your hands off of the Guyana Essequibo", adding that "we will not accept your interference any longer".

Maduro to US: “Take your hands off of the Guyana Essequibo”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wants the United States to stay out of the border controversy that Guyana has with Venezuela.

Mr. Maduro’s statement comes in response to Monday’s statement from the U.S Ambassador to Guyana that both countries should respect the 1899 Arbitration Tribunal ruling which settled the border controversy.

Mr. Maduro has been quoted by Venezuela’s Telesur English News Network as saying that “United States, take your hands off of the Guyana Essequibo”, adding that “we will not accept your interference any longer”.

A statement from the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged the United States not to get involved “directly or indirectly in matters that exclusively belong to the parties involved”.

“It is clear that the provision of the US government to be linked as an interested party in a matter that does not compete either legally or politically, reflects a calculated strategy that aims to validate, by way of summons, the rights for Exxon Mobil extractive activities”, the Venezuelan statement said.

During his Monday press conference at the US Embassy in Georgetown, new U.S Ambassador Perry Halloway said “we call on all parties to continue to respect the 1899 arbitral award ruling  and boundary unless or until a competent legal body decides otherwise or both parties agree on something else”, Halloway pleaded.

He reminded that the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was settled by an arbitral award in 1899 “and that’s a fact and it was duly implemented by both parties”.

The U.S Envoy said the United States was pleased with the recent United Nations facilitated talks involving President David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Mr. Halloway said both Presidents should continue to keep that communication channel open.

Asked specifically by News Source whether the U.S has been paying more attention to the latest conflict in wake of a U.S company finding itself at the centre of the conflict as it drills for oil in Guyana’s waters, Mr. Halloway said the U.S is concerned about both the issue Guyana has with Venezuela as well as the U.S oil company at the centre of the latest controversy. He said the two issues are two different issues and are being looked at that way.

“We have a policy of ensuring that for U.S companies and their rights are protected under international law” Halloway said, but he added that he does not believe the US government’s view on the current situation between Guyana and Venezuela would be any different because of the presence of a U.S company.

Halloway said he remains convinced that the best way to deal with border conflicts which exist worldwide, would be through dialogue and peace.

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