Odeen Ishmael: Saudis ties can counter Venezuela’s threats …also crucial for oil industry support
GUYANA now has a golden opportunity to win the solidarity of the Saudi Arabia and other governments of the Arab states in supporting its territorial integrity and in offering advice and other backing for the development of its oil potential, retired diplomat Odeen Ishmael has said. His comments come even as President David Granger has returned to Guyana after a successful summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during which he cemented ties with that OPEC country and also forged broader alliances with a number of Arab states.
A former ambassador to Kuwait and Qatar, Ishmael said Guyana’s participation at the summit was significant, coming amid the recent flare-up of the decades-old border controversy with Venezuela – another OPEC nation that has been seeking support in the Middle East following pressure from the West.
Caracas has upped its aggression against this country since U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil announced back in May that that it had discovered oil-bearing rock in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The company had said that its Liza-1 well encountered more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.
President David Granger and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge meeting with His Highness, King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Fourth Summit of South American-Arab Countries (ASPA).
Asked how crucial can a Saudi Arabia backing go towards countering Venezuela’s threats, Ishmael said: “I am not too sure about how “crucial” it is, since the Saudis also have very close relations with Venezuela through OPEC and the existence of embassies in each other’s capital.” Also, he said there are many politicians of Arab ancestry in the Venezuelan government and they may have strong contacts in Saudi Arabia. “What I can say however, is that Guyana’s ties with Saudi Arabia can assist in countering aggression and any plans of usurpation by Venezuela since the Saudis are committed based on the Arab-South America agreements to respect the territorial integrity of all states. Thus, they are committed to respect boundaries established under international law, e.g., the 1899 award of the international tribunal,” Ishmael explained.
SIGNIFICANT
He said President Granger’s participation at the just concluded Arab summit, was especially significant. “He will always be held in high esteem by the Saudis for this, since he showed them respect by accepting the King’s invitation to travel to Saudi Arabia. Guyana can now build on this contact of friendship and win the solidarity of the Saudis and other governments of the Arab states in supporting our territorial integrity and in offering advice and other support for the development of our oil potential,” said Ishmael, who had also served as ambassador to Venezuela and the United States.
Additionally, he took particular note of the gesture of Saudi Arabia who sent a charted plane to transport President Granger and his delegation to and from the summit, saying this “shows the Saudi interest in Guyana and particularly in opening up a new level of relations.”
He also noted that an important factor to also keep in mind is that the Saudis are very appreciative of Guyana for being one of the first countries in the western hemisphere to officially recognise the Palestinian state.
Ever since taking office President Granger has been seeking global support against Venezuela’s aggression and his maiden United Nations address was focused on that world body and other developed countries coming to the aid of small countries like Guyana.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Ishmael explained that Guyana has two main linkages with the Arab states – through the Arab-South American group and through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“Through especially the latter, Guyana has a golden opportunity to cement a strong political alliance by which the member states of that body will render unqualified solidarity in defence of our territorial integrity,” Ishmael said.
He added that the Saudis have been cooperative with us in the past, noting that it was quickly ironing out problems associated with Guyanese going to Mecca for the Hajj.
“Then they have also expressed interest in expanding improved diplomatic and business linkages,” Ishmael noted, “and in these respects the Guyana government must seize the opportunity in expanding these contacts.”
Back in 2013, the Guyana government had nominated a Saudi citizen to be this country’s honorary consul in Saudi Arabia. “I am not sure if the Saudi government has given its approval, but we need that representation there since we have a relatively large number of Guyanese either residing or studying there, and from time to time they require consular assistance which our Embassy in Kuwait generally provides. But the presence of a consul in Saudi Arabia can provide assistance much more quickly,” Ishmael added.
He said too that Guyana’s expected membership of the Islamic Development Bank can also boost a number of development projects here.
MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIP
During his address to the conference, Granger said Guyana, as a country on the continent of South America and a member of the Union of South American nations (UNASUR), was honoured to be at the summit.
He said the Fourth Arab-South American Summit came at a critical time in global affairs. “It offers crucial lessons for successfully cultivating meaningful friendship, peace and mutually beneficial relations even amid disparate national and regional perspectives and challenges,” the Guyanese leader told the conference.
According to him, the Summit also reflected many timeless ideas and ideals that have inspired “our efforts since the initiation of this bi-regional enterprise over a decade ago. The world today stands in even greater need of such collective efforts. This Summit signifies a renewed spirit of understanding and cooperation for mutual benefit and progress for our peoples, our governments and our continents. This Summit will generate greater understanding, peace and solidarity in a world of growing inequality, insecurity and injustice. We all, as member states of the United Nations, have just embarked on the implementation of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We must be committed to the achievement of those SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) for the benefit of our peoples and to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Granger also noted Guyana’s deep concern for the Palestinian people, restating Georgetown’s “principled position of support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for their inalienable rights, including the right to statehood.”
“We need, also, to use this forum to pledge to deepen our cooperation to provide leadership and solutions to the wide array of challenges we face in common. We need to explore means of actualising the prospects and promise of collaboration between Arab and South American countries and expanding South-South ties.”
Noting that the summit afforded Guyana the opportunity to reaffirm the core principles that have animated our cooperation, Granger said it has also reinvigorated “our strong commitment to peace and to working together to expand the platform for a robust and meaningful partnership between our regions and peoples".
