Gov’t sticking to validity of 1899 ruling, Maduro says 1966 move made it ‘void’
Wednesday , October 14 2015, Source
GOVERNMENT is hoping that Ms. Cheryl Myles, the Ambassador it nominated to Venezuela, will be settled in Venezuela soon. Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, today disclosed that “preparations are in train” for Myles’ move to the neighbouring country.
Presidents David Granger and Nicolas Maduro, at a meeting in New York last month, agreed that Venezuela will accredit the new ambassador and have its ambassador return to Guyana after having been called home for talks.
Trotman also commented on the brief visit by the United Nations (UN) Chief, Ban Ki-Moon was in Guyana over the weekend for a brief visit and meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge.
Following his visit, a six-member team, led by the Chef de Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary General of the UN Ms Susana Malcorra, was in Guyana to discuss the controversy resulting from Venezuela’s contention that the 1899 Arbitral Award is null and void.
This is a follow up to the visit paid by a UN Technical Mission in July, 2015 and is in accordance with the programme of activities laid out by the Secretary General following his meeting with the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, 2015.
Trotman said the position of the Government is that the matter was decided in 1899 and Venezuela’s claims are baseless.
The 1899 demarcation – the 1899 Arbitral Award – of the territorial limits dispossessed Venezuela of the Essequibo region and Guyana had considered the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela settled.
However, the Award was disputed and in 1966, Guyana and Venezuela signed the Geneva Agreement. This agreement took note of the fact that Venezuela was disputing the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. While it did not take any position about Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo, it committed Venezuela, Britain and Guyana to ensure that “any outstanding controversy…should (be) amicably resolved in a manner acceptable to both parties.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro recently disclosed that the signing of the 1966 Geneva Agreement rendered the 1899 Arbitral Award null and void and is the ground on which he has taken his challenge to the UN.
Maduro’s claim to the Essequibo followed disclosures over the possible oil discoveries by ExxonMobil in the area.
Both countries have committed to peaceful resolution.
