British High Commissioner reaffirms support for Guyana in Venezuela border row
Speaking to journalists in Georgetown on Thursday, Quinn also defended his right and that of other diplomats to urge respect for the award and international law.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn has joined his United States counterpart, Perry Holloway in calling on Venezuela to respect the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the border it shares with Guyana.
Speaking to journalists in Georgetown on Thursday, Quinn also defended his right and that of other diplomats to urge respect for the award and international law.
Following calls for Venezuela to respect the 1899 Award by the U.S the Ambassador to Guyana on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on the United States to stay out of the border controversy that Guyana has with Venezuela.
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”. But his rejection of the U.S Ambassadors statements is not sitting well with other diplomats in Georgetown.
“If you remember whenever I made similar comments, the Venezuelans made similar statements… but I am firmly of the view that it is perfectly legitimate for me and my government to state that position that was settled in 1899,” Quinn added.
The British High Commissioner said “how the Venezuelan responds is up to Venezuela.”
Asked how Britain’s support can manifest in dealing with the border issue, the High Commissioner said that at this point Venezuela and Guyana must try and sort the issue out.
He said the UK has demonstrated its support for what the United Nations is doing but insisted that “at this time I think we should leave it to the two countries to try and sort it out.”
