BRASILIA, Brazil, CMC: President Luis Inacio ‘Lula’ Da Silva won’t attend Thursday’s assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines between President Irfaan Ali of Guyana and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, on the contentious border dispute between the 2 international locations, based on Brazilian media stories.
Trinidad and Tobago’s CARICOM and Overseas Affairs Minister, Dr. Avery Browne, talking on a radio program in Port of Spain Tuesday, confirmed Da Silva’s absence from the talks.
Da Silva, who had been invited to attend the talks brokered by the Neighborhood of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Caribbean Neighborhood CARICOM, might be represented by his overseas relations advisor, Celso Amorim.
The Brazilian media reported that Amorim had traveled to Caracas earlier this month and has been the first coordinator within the resumption of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Venezuela since Da Silva received a 3rd time period in October final 12 months.
One media outlet reported that Amorim, in Lula’s absence, could be chargeable for transmitting completely different messages to the 2 international locations concerned within the territorial dispute and that he would point out that Brazil wouldn’t help unilateral measures that result in an escalation of the state of affairs, adopting a agency stance in opposition to the battle.
Following the December 3 referendum by which the Venezuelan authorities mentioned no less than 95 % of voters in his South American nation voted to help Caracas annexing the Essequibo in Guyana, President Maduro introduced that the Essequibo could be Venezuela’s new navy zone.
He additionally urged overseas traders, with concessions granted by Guyana, to have three months to depart and {that a} census could be carried out to offer residents of Essequibo citizenship and Venezuelan identification playing cards.
On Monday, former Commonwealth secretary-general Sir Shridath Ramphal mentioned “false expectations shouldn’t be inspired” within the talks between the 2 leaders.
In a press release, Sir Shridath, the co-agent of Guyana earlier than the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ), mentioned that it’s important that the boundaries of the talks in Kingstown are understood.
He mentioned for many years, the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) has been “essentially the most vocal and constant supporter of Guyana concerning the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. “By no means was that help extra evident than when its Heads of Authorities held an emergency assembly in that context on December 8, 2023. They didn’t falter. CARICOM Heads repeated the place they stood on essentially the most vital features of the present state of affairs,” he mentioned.
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