Venezuela Rejects Guyana’s Interference in its Internal Affairs
The Government of Venezuela published a communique on Monday in which it rejects the recent statements of the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who questioned the decree issued by President Nicolás Maduro to create the Territory for the Development of the Atlantic Facade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to defend Venezuelan territorial sovereignty.
The decree, which is part of legal, diplomatic, political and state actions to defend the historical territorial rights of Venezuelans, will provide protection and safeguard the jurisdiction of Venezuela on the continent, its inland marine areas, and the historical borders of the country.
On his Twitter account, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza posted that “Venezuela rejects the statements of the President of Guyana, Mr. Irfaan Alí, on matters of our internal jurisdiction. It is regrettable that the statements of its highest official persist in the confrontation, seduced by the interests of Exxon Mobil.”
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#COMUNICADO | Venezuela rechaza las declaraciones del Presidente de Guyana, Sr.Irfaan Alí, sobre asuntos de nuestra jurisdicción interna. Es lamentable que las declaraciones de su mas alto funcionario persistan en la confrontación, seducido por los intereses de la Exxon Mobil. pic.twitter.com/T4xhUpbYia
— Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) January 11, 2021
In the communique, the Venezuelan Government states that the Guyanese authorities are not at all responsible for “the presidential decree on regional administrative management, which is the exclusive competence of the Venezuelan Executive in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic.”
Likewise, the communique expressed concern that “the astonishing declarations also claim rights not yet resolved in the territorial controversy, and confirm the serious behavior of Guyana in acting unilaterally by granting concessions to an energy corporation that threatens the territorial integrity of Venezuela and violates International Law.”
Venezuela considers that the repeated violation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement by Guyana confirm “the grave violation of an International Treaty validly deposited at the UN.”
“It is regrettable that the statements of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, of its highest official, tries to persist in the confrontation, making false and disrespectful accusations and driving the Cooperative Republic of Guyana away from the path of negotiation, seduced by the interests of the Exxon Mobil, clearly supported by the outgoing government of Donald Trump and its abusive use of force.”
However, Venezuela, in strict adherence to legality, a firm believer in the path of friendly cooperation, “reiterates to Guyana the invitation to redirect the dispute within the legal framework of the Geneva Agreement,” and rejects any attempt to validate threats that jeopardize the peace of the region and seek to violate Venezuela’s “inalienable and undisputed sovereignty and independence.”
Below is the official English-language version of the communique:
Venezuela rejects interfering statements by the President of Guyana, Irfaan Alí
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela protests and rejects the extravagant declarations made of January 9th by the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Mr. Irfaan Alí, who repeatedly alluded to Venezuela in matters that are within the competence of our internal jurisdiction, by referring to a Presidential Decree on regional administrative ordinance that is exclusive of the National Executive in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic, and which in no way falls within the competence of the Guyanese authorities.
Behind these deceptive and confusing species, which boast of imperial supremacy that incites them to confrontation with Venezuela, lie unknown and dangerous pretensions, not at all in accordance with International Public Law in the fulfillment of good neighborliness and the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and sovereign respect for States.
These astonishing declarations also abrogate unresolved rights in the territorial controversy, and confirm the serious conduct of Guyana in unilaterally disposing of a controversial territory by granting concessions to energy emporiums that threaten Venezuela’s territorial integrity and violate International Law, and which has timely motivated Venezuela’s due and just claim.
The repeated violation of the Geneva Agreement of 1966 by Guyana, its historical attitude of delaying political and peaceful negotiations, the unilateral granting of concessions in a territory that does not belong to it, and its illegitimate escape from the jurisdiction of the Court, while at the same time filing a unilateral claim of illegal object, only confirm the serious violation of an International Treaty validly deposited at the UN. President Irfaan’s statement expresses a clear confession in this direction.
It is regrettable that the declarations of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in its highest official, tries to persist in the confrontation, making false and disrespectful accusations and moving the Cooperative Republic of Guyana away from the path of negotiation, seduced by the interests of Exxon Mobil, clearly supported by the outgoing government of Donald Trump and its abusive use of force.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, consistent with its international actions of strict adherence to legality, a firm believer in the path of friendly cooperation, reiterates to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana the invitation to redirect the controversy within the legal framework of the Geneva Agreement. Venezuela rejects any attempt to validate threats or aggressions that attempt against the peace of our Region, and intend to violate our unquestionable and unquestionable sovereignty and independence.
Caracas, January 11th, 2021
Featured image: File photo.
Translation: OT/JRE/SL
