Venezuelan parliament rejects U.S. interference in territorial dispute with Guyana

The Venezuelan National Assembly (Congress) on Tuesday unanimously rejected the interference of the United States government in the territorial dispute between the country and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

During the regular parliamentary session of the legislature’s highest body, official deputy Hermann Escarrá officially presented the agreement to reject the Paris Arbitral Award of 1899, an instrument to be enforced by Guyana and the United States to harm Venezuela in the dispute.

Escarrá stressed that the Geneva Agreement, signed by both parties in 1966, is the current and internationally binding instrument. This agreement also clarifies that the Paris Arbitral Award is invalid and void.

The Geneva Agreement stipulates that Venezuela and Guyana must resolve the territorial dispute satisfactorily, practically, and amicable manner.

The document, approved today by government and opposition deputies, strongly rejects statements made by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols. They recently declared his support for the Paris arbitration award.

The opposition deputy, José Gregorio Correa, stressed that the dispute over the Essequibo territory “is not a political issue (of an internal controversy), but an issue of territorial integrity” and that this issue should bring all Venezuelans together to defend their sovereignty.

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