Guyana welcomes Security Council statement on Venezuelan law

Guyana yesterday welcomed a statement by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday on Venezuela’s promulgation of `The Organic law for the Defense of Guyana Esequiba’.

That law purports to incorporate Guyana’s county of Essequibo into Venezuela and this country – which is an ordinary member of the UNSC - had raised the matter for discussion. Guyana noted that the UNSC in its statement on Monday reminded Georgetown and Caracas of their obligation to comply with the Order of Provisional Measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 1st 2023. Guyana noted that the ICJ had unanimously ordered that pending a final decision in the case brought by Georgetown, Venezuela should refrain from taking any action which would change the situation that currently exists in Essequibo where this country administers and exercises control over the area.

Both countries were also urged to refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to revoke. Venezuela’s recent actions would be seen to be in violation of this order by the ICJ.

In its statement yesterday, Guyana said that it “…welcomes the reaffirmation by members of the Security Council of the importance of upholding the Court’s Order, the principles of respect for each State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, as enshrined in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter”.

Guyana added that it hopes that the UNSC statement will contribute to ensuring that Latin America and the Caribbean remains a zone of peace.

“Guyana is committed to the peaceful resolution of the controversy with Venezuela in full accordance with international law through the process of the International Court of Justice and expresses its gratitude to the members if the Security Council for their valuable consideration of this issue of great importance for the two countries and the region”, the statement added.

The UNSC statement followed a meeting by the security council last week Tuesday at the request of President

Irfaan Ali, to address Venezuela’s approval of the creation of a new state in Essequibo. Observers say that Monday’s statement by the UNSC would be a poor return for Guyana especially considering its presence on the council and particularly as Venezuela has been the sole aggressor on the question of the border controversy between the two countries. It held a referendum last year intending to annexe Guyana’s Essequibo despite the fact that there is a live case on the matter before the ICJ.

After the ICJ issued provisional measures on December 1st last year at the request of Guyana, Venezuela still proceeded with the referendum. After this, it then proceeded to promulgate a law on the creation of a state out of Essequibo and for its defence. This was in flagrant violation of the ICJ provisional measures on December 1st which stated: “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”