
Addressing the ongoing threats to Guyana’s territorial integrity from Venezuela, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized the need for the Organisation of American States (OAS) to take a firm stand against authoritarian regimes and their anti-democratic practices during a recent General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda.
Landau criticized the Maduro administration’s recent national vote aimed at asserting illegal claims over Guyana’s Essequibo region, coinciding with Guyana’s 59th Independence anniversary. He pointed out that the border dispute is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has cautioned Venezuela against any actions that could disrupt the status quo.
The US official questioned the purpose of the OAS if it fails to address these transgressions against territorial integrity and international law. He remarked, “We must ask what’s the point of the organization” if it cannot respond effectively to such provocations.
Landau reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the sovereign rights of nations and democratic principles throughout the hemisphere. He expressed a desire for the OAS to engage constructively in finding solutions to these issues.
In a pertinent ruling, the ICJ recently ordered Venezuela to refrain from conducting any elections in the disputed Essequibo region while the border dispute is under consideration.
This long-standing controversy, which traces back to the 1899 Arbitral Agreement, has been reignited by Venezuela since the 1960s, further complicating regional stability.
Source: guyanachronicle.com