GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The previous Commonwealth secretary common, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Monday mentioned “false expectations shouldn’t be inspired” within the talks on Thursday between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro over the disputed Essequibo area.
The talks will happen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 10.00 am (native time). In an announcement, 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 “probably the most vocal and constant supporter of Guyana in regards to 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 8 December 2023. They didn’t falter. CARICOM Heads repeated the place they stood on probably the most vital points of the present state of affairs,” he mentioned.
Sir Shridath famous that the regional leaders “firmly” supported Guyana in pursuance of the decision of its border controversy with Venezuela via the ICJ course of and urged Venezuela to respect the conservatory measures decided by the ICJ in its latest ruling till a last decision.
He additionally famous that the regional leaders reiterated that the Caribbean must be thought to be a Zone of Peace and the upkeep of worldwide regulation.
“It’s in that context, and with good consciousness that the Guyana-Venezuela matter is into consideration by the ICJ and that the Courtroom’s proceedings can’t be compromised, that CARICOM Heads have known as for an ‘applicable’ dialogue between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to make sure ‘peaceable coexistence,’ ‘the applying and respect for worldwide regulation,’ and ‘the avoidance of the use or threats of power,” Sir Shridath mentioned.
He mentioned there “was no name for any dialogue on the Venezuelan controversy over the Essequibo area of Guyana.
“It’s inside these parameters that Guyana’s President has responded positively to the area’s name for an ‘applicable’ dialogue with Venezuela’s President. Guyana has all the time urged Venezuela within the route of peaceable coexistence. All Guyanese ought to bolster President Ali’s efforts on this regard,” the previous Guyana lawyer common mentioned.
Sir Shridath mentioned, “If President Maduro responds in like method, CARICOM’s efforts can have the reward of deference to not solely regional however worldwide norms of peace and safety.”
On Sunday, President Ali mentioned his assembly on Thursday with Maduro can be confined to discussing the necessity for peace and respect for worldwide regulation regardless of their ongoing border dispute.
Ali, in a letter responding to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who has organized the assembly in Kingstown, mentioned that he can be attending the talks “in reply to the decision by colleague” CARICOM leaders for “applicable dialogue” “to make sure peaceable coexistence, the applying and respect for worldwide regulation and the avoidance of the use or threats of power.”
Gonsalves mentioned the 2 leaders had agreed to fulfill face-to-face below the auspices of the Neighborhood of States of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the professional tempore and the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM), whose present chairman is the Dominica Prime Minster, Roosevelt Skerrit.
Gonsalves mentioned that Ali and Maduro had requested the presence of the President of Brazil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, including that an invite had been despatched to the Brazilian chief.
“I don’t wish to preempt what we’ll do or preempt what would be the consequence of the dialogue, however now we have made it very clear…and hope that good sense will prevail. We hope that there will probably be a full dedication to peace, respect for our borders, and peace throughout the area,” Ali mentioned.
“We aren’t going to take away from the ICJ; we aren’t going to step out from the ICJ. We now have clarified this controversy with the ICJ,” he added.
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