Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) with Norman Givran, his Personal Representative on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. UN Photo/Mark Garten

A UN envoy today hailed a recent workshop related to a long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela as a demonstration of both countries’ on-going commitment to a peaceful resolution of the matter.

“This workshop took place in the context of the extremely friendly and cordial relations now existing between Guyana and Venezuela and their commitment to the good offices process established by the Secretary-General [Ban Ki-moon],” the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, Norman Girvan, said in a statement.

The workshop, held on Tuesday and organized with support from the UN Department of Political Affairs, focused on multi-dimensional approaches and best practices in the resolution of controversies, based on examples from around the world. 

Among the participants were both countries' facilitators in the good offices process – Hari Narayen Ramkarran for Guyana and Ambassador Roy Chaderton Matos for Venezuela – as well as both countries' Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York.

“The participants displayed a tremendously positive and constructive spirit, and everyone agreed that we are all equipped better with relevant information,” Mr. Girvan added, noting that the workshop participants are currently exploring possible next steps.