Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal has offered his support for the talks set for Thursday in St Vincent and the Grenadines between President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the wake of the tensions that have arisen between the two countries.
In a statement today, Sir Shridath said that it is important that the limits of the talks are understood and that “false expectations” should not be encouraged.
The meeting brokered by CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has raised questions about exactly what will be discussed since Guyana has made it clear that the border controversy and the path for its settlement at the International Court of Justice are not up for deliberation.
Sir Shridath also applauded CARICOM for its role in the process.
“For decades, CARICOM has been the most vocal and consistent supporter of Guyana with regard to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. Never was that support more evident than when its Heads of Government held an emergency meeting in that context on 8 December 2023. They did not falter. CARICOM Heads repeated where they stood on the most critical aspects of the current situation”, he said.
He noted that CARICOM said in a statement of December 8 that they firmly support Guyana in the pursuance of the resolution of the border controversy through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and urged Venezuela to respect the conservatory orders set by the ICJ in its recent ruling pending a final resolution of the matter. Sir Shridath also noted that CARICOM reiterated its commitment to the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the maintenance of international law.
“It is in that context, and with perfect awareness that the Guyana-Venezuela matter is under consideration by the ICJ and that the Court’s proceedings cannot be compromised, that CARICOM Heads have called for an `appropriate’ dialogue between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela: to ensure `peaceful co-existence’, `the application and respect for international law’, and `the avoidance of the use of threats of force’”, Sir Shridath said.
He said that there was no call for any discussion on the controversy over the Essequibo.
“It is within those parameters that Guyana’s President has responded positively to the Region’s call for an `appropriate’ dialogue with Venezuela’s President. Guyana has always urged Venezuela in the direction of peaceful co-existence. All Guyanese should bolster President Ali’s efforts in this regard.
“If President Maduro responds in like manner, CARICOM’s efforts will have the reward of deference to not only regional but international norms of peace and security”, he said.
