A Venezuelan publication is calling on that country’s government to admit it made a mistake, offer apologies and pay compensation for the two dredges its military destroyed in the Cuyuni on November 15.
The online edition of Veneconomia said in its editorial on Tuesday, titled ‘From crisis to crisis’: “For the good of bilateral relations between Guyana and Venezuela, it is essential that this incident be clarified in the most transparent manner possible.”
And the PNCR has joined the other parliamentary opposition political parties, the AFC and GAP-ROAR, in condemning the violation of Guyana’s land and airspace by the Venezuelan military.
The PNCR in a statement issued at its weekly press briefing yesterday said that the action by the Venezuelan military was “contrary to international law and the concept of the peaceful resolution of differences between states, violating, as this act does, the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United States and the Organization of American States.”
It urged the government to go beyond the formal diplomatic practice of registering a complaint against the invasion of Guyana’s territory and pursue a more robust defence of the nation’s interest. The party said government should invoke the relevant mechanisms of the various international organizations to which Guyana belongs, including asking the UN to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the area in which the invasion occurred, since Venezuela is claiming that the incident took place on its territory.
Meanwhile the Venezuelan publication, high critical of its government said that under no circumstance is it convenient for any questions to be left unanswered. And “if it turns out to be an excess and abuse by the Venezuelan soldiers, which would seem to be the case, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry should admit to the mistake, offer apologies and pay compensation for the damaged [dredges],” Veneconomia said.
“If it does not, Guyana could file a complaint with the OAS [Organisation of American States] or Caricom, which would further sully the negative image that people in the region are forming of Venezuela’s government.”
The editorial said that if Guyana was not satisfied with the clarifications and doubts persist, “the possibility of obtaining the support of the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean in the dispute over the Essequibo could vanish, which would put an end to efforts to reach a positive settlement of this affair.”
Veneconomia said what was more, if the incident escalated, Venezuela could have another international crisis on its hands to add to the already “turbulent” relations with Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, the United States and Spain. And it would also “confirm the perception expressed by former Brazilian President Jos
