The Government of Guyana on Wednesday announced its firm rejection of an agreement by Venezuela’s government and its joint opposition to press their longstanding claim to nearly three-quarters of its territory.
“That agreement is an overt threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana,” the government said in a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in response to the accord.
“Guyana cannot be used as an altar of sacrifice for settlement of Venezuela’s internal political differences. While the Government of Guyana welcomes domestic accord within Venezuela, an agreement defying international law and process is not a basis for mediating harmony,” it added, while noting that the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela is properly before the Inter-national Court of Justice (ICJ) and will remain there for peaceful resolution.
Venezuela’s government and opposition representatives reached partial agreement on Monday during talks in Mexico City. Venezuela has sought to claim most of Guyana’s Atlantic waters, which includes the offshore Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil is leading oil production.
