The Governments of Venezuela and Guyana will celebrate in the next three months, or “at another agreed time”, a meeting in Brazilto board “any matter with implications” for him Essequibo -a territory of about 160,000 square kilometers that are disputed by Caracas and Georgetown-, according to what was agreed this Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadinesin a first meeting.
The commitment is reflected in a joint declaration, read after the meeting in the island nation, headed by the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduroand his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Ali.
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In the meeting scheduled, initially, for the first quarter of next year, it is also proposed to address an update that the today created must deliver “joint commission of the ministers of Foreign Affairs and technicians of the two States“, with the purpose of “discuss mutually agreed matters”.
Likewise, the parties agreed that the San Vicentino prime minister and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), Ralph Gonsalves; the prime minister of Dominica and president of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Roosevelt Skerrit; and the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva“They will continue to deal with the matter as interlocutors”.
For his part, the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterreswill act “as an observer, with permanent attendance” by Maduro and Ali.
The document states that, “For the avoidance of doubt, the paper“by Gonsalves”will continue even after Saint Vincent and the Grenadines leaves“the pro tempore Presidency of the Celacwhile Skerrit will continue as “bureau member” of the Caricom.
Caracas and Georgetown agreed not to threaten or use force under any circumstances, including “arising from any controversy existing between both States”, like the dispute over Essequibo that raised tension in recent weeks.
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Besides, “will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground that lead to tensions” and, in the event that an event of this type occurs, “They will immediately communicate with each other“, with Caricom, with Celac and with the Brazilian president to “contain it, reverse it and prevent it from recurring”.
The controversy escalated after Venezuela approved on December 3 in a unilateral referendum – which was intended to be binding – to annex the disputed area, under the control of Guyanaand the Maduro Government ordered the settlement of a military division near the area in dispute, without incursions for the moment, as well as the modification of the official Venezuelan map, to which the Guyana Essequiba.
