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Jan 30,2018

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This story is developing and will be updated.

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has recommended that the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy be referred to International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Stabroek News understands that the decision was communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here today.

Guyana has been seeking recourse to the ICJ to settle the long-running controversy with Venezuela which emerged in 1962.

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had given the good offices process between the two countries one additional year – 2017 –  for talks at settling the controversy and if there was no substantial progress the matter would then be sent to the ICJ, also known as the World Court.

There had been no reported progress in the Good Offices process which was overseen by negotiator, Dag Nylander, leading to today’s UN decision.

President David Granger is to address the country on the matter.

A statement issued by the UN follows:

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

The longstanding border controversy between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void. In the Geneva Agreement of 1966, Guyana and Venezuela conferred upon the Secretary-General the power and responsibility to choose a means of peaceful settlement from amongst those contemplated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Geneva Agreement also provides that if the means so chosen does not lead to a solution of the controversy, the Secretary-General is to choose another means of settlement.

Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon communicated to the parties on 15 December 2016 a framework for the resolution of the border controversy based on his conclusions on what would constitute the most appropriate next steps. Notably, he concluded that the Good Offices Process, which had been conducted since 1990, would continue for one final year, until the end of 2017, with a strengthened mandate of mediation. He also reached the conclusion that if, by the end of 2017, his successor, Secretary-General António Guterres, concluded that significant progress had not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly requested that he refrain from doing so.

In early 2017, Secretary-General Guterres appointed a Personal Representative, Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander, who engaged in intensive high-level efforts to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy.

The Secretary-General has carefully analysed developments in 2017 in the good offices process and has concluded that significant progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy. Accordingly, the Secretary-General has fulfilled the responsibility that has fallen to him within the framework set by his predecessor in December 2016, and has chosen the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for the solution of the controversy.

In reaching this decision, the Secretary-General has also reached the conclusion that Guyana and Venezuela could benefit from the continued good offices of the United Nations through a complementary process established on the basis of the powers of the Secretary-General under the Charter of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations, remains committed to accompany both States as they seek to overcome their differences regarding this border controversy.

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General
New York, 30 January 2018

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Nehru posted:

Oh SHIT, all who live in Essequibo has to be worried BUt I hope they Rule in Guyana's favor!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not 1 blade of grass NOT 1 Curass!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is good for Guyana 🇬🇾.  I find it difficult that the ICJ will contradict the 1899 award.  Doing so could have far reaching consequences globally.  I’m optimistic that Guyana will prevail!

FM
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
alena06 posted:

They should throw in the GECOM chairman case at the same time and kill two birds with one stone.  

Girl, that’s a local domestic issue!

Wattax !!

Hehe .. Idiots have a hard time figuring out a sarcastic post. 

alena06
alena06 posted:
Django posted:
Baseman posted:
alena06 posted:

They should throw in the GECOM chairman case at the same time and kill two birds with one stone.  

Girl, that’s a local domestic issue!

Wattax !!

Hehe .. Idiots have a hard time figuring out a sarcastic post. 

You fit !!

Django
alena06 posted:

The GECOM issue is just as important and we all know it will never come up for a fair hearing.

True, but I think they first have to try local courts, then escalate to the Caribbean courts, then maybe the UK.

FM
alena06 posted:

The GECOM issue is just as important and we all know it will never come up for a fair hearing.

One would have thought that the international community would frown upon the breach of constitution by the unilateral appt. of Mr. What's His Name? 

Bibi Haniffa
VishMahabir posted:
Baseman posted:
VishMahabir posted:

This was a mistake...

What was?

Taking the case to the ICJ....the arbitration award already decided in Guyana's ....this is opening a can of worms

How else would the US get their hands on Venezuela?  Guyana is a pawn in the game of international chess.  Excellent point you raised there.

Bibi Haniffa
VishMahabir posted:
Baseman posted:
VishMahabir posted:

This was a mistake...

What was?

Taking the case to the ICJ....the arbitration award already decided in Guyana's ....this is opening a can of worms

So what you suggest as the way forward?  How is this different from the Suriname issue?

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:
alena06 posted:

The GECOM issue is just as important and we all know it will never come up for a fair hearing.

One would have thought that the international community would frown upon the breach of constitution by the unilateral appt. of Mr. What's His Name? 

Maybe but If so, then the next step is the courts all the way to the UK.  You cannot draw in the UN without going thru that process.

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:

How come the Venezuela border issue only comes up when PNC is in govt?

It was there all along.  Remember the expulsion of an oil exploration rig several years ago.  But in fairness, the PPP did cultivate a cordial relationship with Hugo Chavez.

FM
Baseman posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
alena06 posted:

The GECOM issue is just as important and we all know it will never come up for a fair hearing.

One would have thought that the international community would frown upon the breach of constitution by the unilateral appt. of Mr. What's His Name? 

Maybe but If so, then the next step is the courts all the way to the UK.  You cannot draw in the UN without going thru that process.

The UK no longer has jurisdiction over domestic criminal and civil cases from Guyana. The Caribbean Court of Justice has replaced the UK Privy Council as the highest court of appeal for cases originating in Guyana.

Mars
Mars posted:
Baseman posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
alena06 posted:

The GECOM issue is just as important and we all know it will never come up for a fair hearing.

One would have thought that the international community would frown upon the breach of constitution by the unilateral appt. of Mr. What's His Name? 

Maybe but If so, then the next step is the courts all the way to the UK.  You cannot draw in the UN without going thru that process.

The UK no longer has jurisdiction over domestic criminal and civil cases from Guyana. The Caribbean Court of Justice has replaced the UK Privy Council as the highest court of appeal for cases originating in Guyana.

Thanks.  I thought so but was not certain.  Anyway, the gist of my point remains.  It’s not a UN matter, at this stage anyway!

FM

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