President Irfaan Ali yesterday said he was going to the meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with an open mind in the interest of peace in the region but reiterated that the border and ICJ case were off the table.
“We don’t live in a region by ourselves. We have respect for our bilateral partners, our regional partners. I have made very clear, our position. We are a peaceful country. Our only ambition is to protect what belongs to us and we have absolutely no difficulty in meeting with any of our neighbours,” Ali told reporters following the commissioning of the Heroes’ Highway, yesterday.
“We continue to talk about development, to work as neighbours, co-exist as neighbours and ensure this region remains a region of peace, a region of stability. Our regional partners requested of us to have this conversation. We outlined very clearly where we stand in relation to the controversy and have made it clear we are not averse to talking.”
