Venezuela National Assembly establishes special committee ‘for defense of Essequibo ”; asks the UN Secretary General to resume dialogue with Guyana

Last updated on Saturday, 9 January 2021, 10:57 by Denis Chabrol

Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela’s national assembly will set up a special committee for the defense of the Essequibo region in Guyana, the former nation claims, BN Americas reported.

The committee’s creation is part of an agreement approved by law-makers rejecting the International Court of Justice’s ruling in favor of Guyana about the tribunal’s jurisdiction in the territorial dispute.

The treaty confirms the 1966 Geneva agreement to resolve the conflict through bilateral negotiations, as Venezuela does not recognize an arbitrary ruling in October 1899 in favor of its neighbor.

“It’s ours; it belongs to the Venezuelans and we’re going to reconvene it in peace, in a national union, we’re going to achieve it, ”said President Nicolás Maduro following the decision of the legislative body .

Essequibo covers over half of Guyana and runs from the country’s coast on the border with Venezuela, south to Brazil. Saber rushing on behalf of Venezuela intensified as Guyana moved toward first oil and contained disturbance by Venezuela’s navy from ships doing seismic work of hydrocarbons.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, asking him to intervene to promote dialogue with Guyana on the border debate. “Their good offices need to be accounted for, in the broadest possible sense, to resume, with the urgency that this debate deserves, direct negotiations between Guyana and Venezuela with the aim of moving towards peaceful and beneficial understanding for both. parts “, highlighting the communication announced by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, El Universal reported.

In the letter, the Venezuelan president warns: “You have the ability to revive dialogue as a way to avoid decisions outside international legitimacy, which can seriously jeopardize the region’s peace and security.”

The Venezuelan leader said his country had never consented to the ICJ’s role in the border issue.

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