Gobierno pide a Reino Unido apoyo frente a reclamo territorial venezolano
President welcomes UK’s support for Guyana’s developmental efforts – at celebration to mark Queen’s 89th birthday
President Granger stated that on the occasion of the Queen’s 89th birth anniversary, the Guyana government stood ready to work with its international partners for the development of all Guyanese in pursuit of common goals. “Our longstanding relations with the United Kingdom have evolved considerably over the years. Our two countries have developed fruitful cooperation at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels including through the successful biennial United Kingdom – Caribbean Forum and the Commonwealth.”
The Guyanese Head of State also thanked the United Kingdom for its support for this country’s development efforts and, “more recently, for its advocacy of good governance and respect for the rule of law.” He said that Guyana also welcomes the United Kingdom’s continued collaboration in addressing global challenges which confront both developed and developing countries. “The United Nations will be adopting and pursuing a new development paradigm in the post-2015 development Agenda and this will provide a sound basis for our future cooperation especially in the area of sustainable development”.
The United Kingdom’s support for Guyana’s position on the claims being generated by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela over previously settled borders was also welcomed by President Granger. “Guyana-Venezuela relations, since the independence of Guyana in 1966, have been affected by intermittent and aggressive claims by Venezuela on Guyana’s territory. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, on May 27, 2015, issued Decree No. 1.787 extending Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s waters which include the exploration site of ExxonMobil. It has become increasingly clear that Venezuela intends to put Guyana under pressure and stymie its development by its unfriendly actions.”
The president then called on all states, particularly the United Kingdom during the regime of which the territorial issue arose and was resolved peacefully by international arbitral tribunal, to demonstrate solidarity with Guyana, “and to condemn the use, or threat of the use, of force in the settlement of international disputes.”
Before proposing a toast on his country’s behalf, UK High Commissioner Gregory Quinn noted the difference that a few weeks had made in the local political landscape, and reiterated that the recently concluded elections were free and fair. He said that the important thing now is to move forward, “for us all to help develop and grow Guyana in the way its peoples want, and its people desire”.
He reiterated that the UK stands ready to help with that process. “We are a friend of Guyana. There are no doubt challenges (and) much work to be done in many areas”. He listed the example of abuse against women which continues to be a concern for him, describing this as unacceptable and disgraceful. He added that it should bring shame on those who perpetrate it and that, “It has no place in a modern democratic Guyana”.
High Commissioner Quinn commended the new government for its work on reconciliation and national unity, urging that everyone work for this common goal. He added that those who work “so tirelessly and passionately for that independence would join him in seeking that unity”.
Venezuela saluda decisión de Guyana sobre Acuerdo de Ginebra
La Cancillería de Venezuela congratuló las declaraciones del ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Guyana, Carl Greenidge, en las que manifiesta que el Gobierno decidió acogerse al marco normativo del Acuerdo de Ginebra de 1966.
Dicho acuerdo, suscrito el 17 de febrero de ese año por los gobiernos de Venezuela del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, bajo el amparo de la Guyana Británica establece la conformación de una comisión mixta para resolver la controversia sobre el diferendo territorial, indica la Agencia Venezolana de Noticias (AVN), citando una nota de prensa del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la nación suramericana.
La decisión del Gobierno de Guyana propicia el diálogo entre la Cancillería venezolana y su consulado para acordar la resolución del diferendo territorial y así avanzar en la agenda bilateral para el desarrollo de ambas naciones.
Por otro lado, Venezuela reitera a la opinión pública internacional que son falsas las maniobras difundidas por la empresa Exxon Mobil que, según el Ejecutivo de Nicolás Maduro, pretende entorpecer las relaciones bilaterales con la vecina nación.
En Contexto
Maduro, pidió el martes al Gobierno de Guyana detener la agresión que mantenía la Cancillería de ese país en torno a la «disputa territorial» que data desde hace más de 100 años.
El mandatario venezolano lamentó que la Cancillería de Guyana intente sembrar un ambiente hostil en torno a la controversia territorial que disputan ambas naciones.
Guyana sostiene que un tribunal laudó el litigio en su favor en 1899, estableciendo las fronteras entre ambos países, pero el asunto ha sido referido al secretario general de Naciones Unidas para que explore formas de encontrar una solución pacífica.
