President David Granger says that he is convinced that the outcome would be favourable, in terms of the region remaining a zone of peace now that Cuba has been briefed on the territorial threat Guyana faces from Venezuela.
A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said that President Granger today met with Cuba’s President, Raul Castro, for bilateral talks, at the United Nations Headquarters. The meeting came hours before Granger is due to meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro under the auspices of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon aimed at resolving the tensions that have erupted over Venezuelan aggression since May this year.
“We took the opportunity to thank the Cuban leader for the support they have given. They have played a very important role in the Caribbean and Africa, as well as a great humanitarian role. We were particularly concerned about the territorial controversy,” Granger was quoted as saying.
He told journalists after the meeting that his government is aware that Cuba is very close to Venezuela and it is for this reason that he would certainly want Cuba to use its influence to help bring a speedy end to the controversy.
Cuba had particularly close relations with the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Granger in the statement also emphasised Guyana’s role in support of Cuba. “As you know Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica were instrumental in working for the normalisation of relations with Cuba since the early 1970s. We have a long tradition of friendship. We have many Cuba trained doctors and many points of contact between the two states,” he said.
Contending that Cuba could play a significant role in resolving the border issue between Guyana and Venezuela, President Granger said, “We feel that, to the extent that Cuba decides to get involved, the outcome would be favourable in ensuring that the Caribbean remains a zone of peace.”
In the meantime, the President said that leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, he will try to meet with as many Commonwealth States as possible, prior to that meeting, which is to be held in Malta in November of this year.
“The Foreign Minister and I will take very opportunity to present Guyana’s interest and to ensure that this obnoxious claim is removed so we can move ahead with our development,” Granger said in the release.
In response to questions on media reports that Venezuela has begun to withdraw military troops and equipment from the borders, Granger said in the statement that if this is so, it is a welcome move by Venezuela. The President added that what would be even more welcome, would be the restoration of normal relations including the return of the Venezuelan Ambassador. “You cannot expect us to talk and remove the persons who do the talking. We want agrément, because the ambassadors are the two point persons through [whom] the two countries can communicate quickly and effectively,” Granger pointed out.
Venezuela recently stalled agrément for Guyana’s nominee to be Ambassador to Caracas.
Granger while in New York has also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian PM was also briefed on the Venezuelan situation.
