OEA - Resolución ACTAS S C 242 de 2026

OEA/Ser.G CP/ACTA 2464/23 1 noviembre 2023

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

CELEBRADA EL 1 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2023

Transcripción corregida

Esta transcripción corregida se somete a la aprobación del Consejo Permanente. Una vez aprobada, constituirá la versión final del acta.

CONSEJO PERMANENTEiii

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión .................................................................................1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día ................................................................................................3

Alocución del Primer Ministro de la República Cooperativa de Guyana, Excelentísimo Señor Brigadier (Ret.) Mark Anthony Phillips, M. S.S., MP .........................................3

Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros .................................................................................................6

Intervención del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, señor Luis Almagro Lemes ............................................................................................ 15iv

DOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/INF. 9923/23, Nota de la Misión Permanente de la República Cooperativa de Guyana mediante la que informa acerca de las recientes actividades y declaraciones del Gobierno de la Rep ública Bolivariana de Venezuela, así como de las respuestas del Gobierno de Guyana y sus socios

que informa acerca de las recientes actividades y declaraciones del Gobierno de la Rep ública Bolivariana de Venezuela, así como de las respuestas del Gobierno de Guyana y sus socios

internacionales.CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 1 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2023

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las tres y seis de la tarde del miércoles 1 de noviembre de 2023, celebró sesión extraordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos con el propósito de recibir al Primer Ministro de la República Cooperativa de Guyana , Excelentísimo Brigadier (Retirado) Mark Anthony Phillips . Presidió la sesión el Embajador Sir Ronald Sanders, Representante Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda y Presidente del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago Embajadora Lou -Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas Embajador Noel Anderson Lynch, Representante Permanente de Barbados Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México Embajadora María del Carmen Roquebert Léon, Representante Permanente de Panamá Embajador Josué Antinoe Fiallo Billini, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana Embajador Carlos Alberto Raimundi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta, Representante Permanente de Bolivia Embajador Lynn Raymond Young, Representante Permanente de Belize

Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta, Representante Permanente de Bolivia Embajador Lynn Raymond Young, Representante Permanente de Belize Embajador Samuel Hinds, Representante Permanente de Guyana Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Embajadora Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía Embajador Mauricio Montalvo Samaniego, Representante Permanente del Ecuador Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile Embajador Luis Ernesto Vargas, Representante Permanente de Colombia Embajador Francisco O. Mora, Representante Permanente de los Estados Unidos Embajador Benoni Belli, Representante Permanente del Brasil Embajador Stuart Savage, Representante Permanente del Canadá Embajador Tarlie Francis, Representante Permanente de Grenada Embajador Steve Ferrol, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de Dominica Ministro Consejero Gonzalo Mauricio Vásquez Orozco, Representante Interino de Guatemala Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Interina de El Salvador Consejera Ana Soledad Sandoval Espínola, Representante Interina del Paraguay Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda Ministra Ana Gabriela Vásquez Rivas Plata, Representante Alterna del Perú Embajador Gandy Thomas, Representante Alterno de Haití Primera Secretaria Chanel Vanessa Nahar, Representante Alterna de Suriname Ministro Roger Alejandro Isaula Quezada, Representante Alterno de Honduras Ministra Delita Elizabeth McCallum, Representante Alterna de Jamaica2También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General de la Organización, señor Luis Almagro

Ministro Roger Alejandro Isaula Quezada, Representante Alterno de Honduras Ministra Delita Elizabeth McCallum, Representante Alterna de Jamaica2También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General de la Organización, señor Luis Almagro Lemes, y el Secretario General Adjunto, Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.- 3El PRESIDENTE: Good afternoon, colleagues. I have the honor to declare open this special meeting of the Permanent Council, pursuant to Article 14 of the Statutes of the Permanent Council and Article 37 of its Rules of Procedure.

The meeting was convened at the request of the Permanent Mission of Guyana, as contained in document CP/INF.9985/23, to receive the Honorable Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips, Vice President and Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, whose presence I acknowledge and who I warmly welcome to our Permanent Council.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO ORDEN DEL DÍA

El PRESIDENTE: Colleagues, in accordance with Article 43 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council, we will proceed to adopt the order of business for this meeting as set out in document CP/OD-2464/23.

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Alocución del Excmo. señor Brigadier (Ret.) Mark Anthony Phillips, M.S.S., MP,

Primer Ministro de la República Cooperativa de Guyana

3. Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

If there are no objections, and I see none, the agenda is adopted.

ALOCUCIÓN DEL PRIMER MINISTRO DE LA REPÚBLICA COOPERATIVA DE GUYANA,

3. Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

If there are no objections, and I see none, the agenda is adopted.

ALOCUCIÓN DEL PRIMER MINISTRO DE LA REPÚBLICA COOPERATIVA DE GUYANA,

EXCELENTÍSIMO SEÑOR BRIGADIER (RET.) MARK ANTHONY PHILLIPS, M.S.S., MP.

El PRESIDENTE: Proceeding now to the second item on the order of business, I once again welcome the Vice President and Prime Minister of the Co -operative Republic of Guyana to this Permanent Council, and I have the honor to invite him to address us.

Prime Minister, the floor is yours.

El PRIMER MINISTRO DE LA REPÚBLICA COOPERATIVA DE GUYANA: Your Excellency Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS); Your Excellency, Sir Ronald Sanders, the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the Organization of American States and Chair of the Permanent Council ; Excellencies; permanent representatives of the Organization of American States, ladies and gentlemen.

At the outset, I would like to express the gratitude of the Government and people of Guyana for this opportunity to speak to you about a controversy with Venezuela which remains an enduring and now immediate threat to not only the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, but the ability of our country to protect our people and develop our resources for their economic and social benefit within the framework of international law.- 4Guyana is also grateful for the efforts of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, including his continued advocacy for a peaceful settlement of the controversy in accordance with international law. Indeed, given its implications for peace and security of the region, the OAS has given close attention to the controversy over the years, and we are appreciative of this.

My presentation to you today will not burden you with the vestiges of our colonial history,

with international law. Indeed, given its implications for peace and security of the region, the OAS has given close attention to the controversy over the years, and we are appreciative of this.

My presentation to you today will not burden you with the vestiges of our colonial history, which are responsible for the situation we have today. Suffice it to say that the matter remains before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since Guyana instit uted proceedings against Venezuela by application in March 2018. In our application, Guyana asks the Court to resolve the controversy that has arisen because of Venezuela's contention, first formally asserted to in 1962, that the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 ( Guyana v. Venezuela ) regarding the boundary between the Colony of British Guyana and the United States of Venezuela is “null and void.”

Excellencies, you are aware that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela raised two preliminary objections to the Court's adjudication of the matter; first challenging the existence of the Court's jurisdiction in 2018, and then in 2022, Venezuela challenged t he exercise of that jurisdiction. Both matters were dispensed with by the Court, which in its judgment, on December 18, 2020, affirmed its jurisdiction based on the provisions of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, and in its judgment on April 6, 2023, rejected the preliminary objection of Venezuela.

Since the decision of the Court as rendered in April this year, Venezuela has expressed its disapproval at the Court's ruling and is now demanding that Guyana returns to the now defunct bilateral dialogue on the issue of Venezuela's illegal claim to Guayan a’s territory. Venezuela accuses Guyana of reneging on its commitments under the Geneva Agreement of 1966, but the reverse is true. That agreement obligates both parties to pursue the means of settlement chosen by the Secretary General of the United Nation s (UN), and he has chosen the International Court of Justice. It is Guyana that is faithful to the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and the decision of the Secretary General. It is Venezuela

agreement obligates both parties to pursue the means of settlement chosen by the Secretary General of the United Nation s (UN), and he has chosen the International Court of Justice. It is Guyana that is faithful to the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and the decision of the Secretary General. It is Venezuela that is defiant and non-compliant.

Instead of complying with its international obligations, Venezuela has further embarked on what appears to be an intensified campaign of intimidation and threats to force Guyana to concede to its wishes. Perhaps the most concerning of these is the planned Consultative Referendum of the Venezuelan Parliament. On September 21, 2023, the National Assembly of Venezuela passed a resolution calling for a referendum regarding Venezuela’s unsubstantiated claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Both the Government of Guyana and the Secretary General of the OAS condemned the passing of the resolution as illegal and improper since it violates the Geneva Agreement of 1966 and is inconsistent with the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to submit the question of the validity of the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, to the ICJ for a ruling.

Despite those condemnations, on October 23, 2023, the Government of Venezuela, through its National Electoral Council, published a list of five questions that it plans to put before the Venezuelan people in this referendum, on December 3, 2023. The purpose of these questions, which is obvious from their nature and timing and the manner in which they have been drafted, is to obtain responses that would support Venezuela's decision to abandon these proceedings and to resort instead to unilateral5measures to resolve the controversy with Guyana by formally annexing and integrating into Venezuela, all of the territory at issue in these proceedings, which comprises more than two-thirds of Guyana.

Two of the more egregious questions being put to the Venezuelan people, questions three and five, seek to determine whether they agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice as the mea ns of settlement of the controversy and the

Two of the more egregious questions being put to the Venezuelan people, questions three and five, seek to determine whether they agree with Venezuela's historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice as the mea ns of settlement of the controversy and the creation of a state of Guyana Essequiba, and the incorporation of that state into the map of Venezuela.

There has been a lot of analyses that suggests that the impending referendum is motivated by political factors internal to Venezuela. Be that as it may, the fact is that the referendum and other acts threatening investments in Guyana, directly impact Guyana’s development. While my government will not discount domestic motivations for the referendum, the fact is that Venezuela has declared from the inception its unwillingness to engage in the international legal process before the Court and Venezuela has not been shy of using force or the threat of the use of force against Guyana in the past. We are therefore vigilant of the intentions and implications of the impending referendum.

Venezuela could be seeking to establish the foundations for actions aimed at the annexation of two-thirds of Guyana's territory, although the matter of the resolution of the controversy is quite properly before the ICJ.

Coupled with the decision to conduct this referendum, it is confirmed that Venezuela has significantly increased its military forces and equipment on its border with Guayana. While the position of the Government of Venezuela, which was communicated to Guyana, is that the security forces have been mobilized on the border to curb illegal mining, there have also been reports of the Venezuelan military building a landing strip in a zone near to the Essequibo region. No explanation about the air strip has been provided to the Government of Guyana, but it is clear that it is the intention of that state to increase rhetoric on the controversy and drive fear in the Guyanese population along the borders.

Guyana noted, with the rest of the international community, the developments relating to the internal political situation in Venezuela. As cemented in the signing of the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for Al l, by the representatives of the

Guyana noted, with the rest of the international community, the developments relating to the internal political situation in Venezuela. As cemented in the signing of the Partial Agreement on the Promotion of Political Rights and Electoral Guarantees for Al l, by the representatives of the Government of Venezuela and the Unity Platform of Venezuela in Bridgetown, Barbados on October 17, 2023, we were forced to place on record our strong objection to the conclusion and contents of the other agreement, the Part ial Agreement for the Protection of the Vital Interests of the Nation, also signed on October 17, 2023, which describes the sovereign territory of Guyana, the Essequibo region, as part of Venezuela. We communicated to the international community our view t hat the agreement is contrary to the hallowed principles and commitment to the sanctity of treaties, respect for international law, and respect for the territorial integrity of all states, as contained in the United Nations Charter.

The Government of Guyana is extremely concerned about these recent actions by Venezuela although all the required modalities are in place to resolve this question of the validity of the Award in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law.

We brought all these developments to the attention of the international community, particularly our traditional partners, so that they are kept informed of the actions being taken by Venezuela that threaten the economic development of Guyana, its peace and security, as well as those of the region.- 6Further, the Government of Guyana, after careful consideration of all the facts, or more importantly, the untenable, utterly unjustified impending referendum, has approached the ICJ for provisional measures, specifically to ensure that the referendum plann ed, or any other public referendum, should not address any question encroaching upon the legal issues to be determined by the Court in its judgment on the merits.

I want to refer today to the several calls which Guyana has been making for a dialogue to address a solution to the controversy. Guyana has, for over two decades, been speaking with Venezuela

Community (CARICOM) countries in our Hemisphere, and the wider international community, in its strenuous efforts to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thank you for your accommodation in allowing us to present our position in this important hemispheric forum.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for your comprehensive and informative presentation.

INTERVENCIONES DE LOS ESTADOS MIEMBROS

El PRESIDENTE: Colleagues, having heard the presentation from the distinguished Prime Minister regarding the troubling situation with Guyana's neighbor Venezuela, I offer the floor to delegations whose representatives may wish to make comments.- 7The floor is now open, and I recognize the Representative of Dominica, who I assume is speaking in his role as Coordinator of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus.

You have the floor, Sir.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DEL COMMONWEALTH DE DOMINICA: Thank you, Chair.

Chair; His Excellency Luis Almagro, Secretary General; Ambassador Nestor Mendez, Assistant Secretary General; the Honorable Brigadier (Retired) Mark Anthony Phillips, Prime Minister of the Co -operative Republic of Guyana; colleague ambassadors; alternates; special guests, good afternoon.

Chair, please allow me, as coordinator of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus of Ambassadors in Washington, D.C., to read into the record a recent statement issued by the Caribbean Community dated October 25, 2023, on the matter of the Guyana -Venezuela controversy before this Permanent Council today, November 1, 2023. I quote. [Lee:]

The Caribbean Community notes the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region. CARICOM further notes that two of the questions approved to be posed in a referendum, if answered in the affirmative, will authorize the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of

Court in its judgment on the merits.

I want to refer today to the several calls which Guyana has been making for a dialogue to address a solution to the controversy. Guyana has, for over two decades, been speaking with Venezuela under the aegis of the good offices process of the United Nation s Secretary General with a view to finding such a peaceful solution. The effort over those years bore no fruit. In 2017, the Secretary General decided that the good offices process would continue for one final year with a strengthened mandate of mediation. He determined that after that year, if no significant progress was made towards arriving at a full agreement to the solution to the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement.

On January 30, 2018, the Secretary General communicated to both parties that he had carefully analyzed the developments in the good offices process during the course of 2017, and he determined that no significant progress has been made and chose the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for the settlement of the controversy. The Secretary General acted pursuant to the authority conferred upon him by the agreement of the parties reflected in Article 4, paragraph 2, of the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

This case is before the Court now. Venezuela must be reminded of its obligations under international law, including its obligation to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ, plead its case to the Court, and comply with the rulings and judgments of the Court.

The advancement and the social and economic well -being of the people of Guyana cannot continue to be held hostage to Venezuela's contention that remains unproven, and which she seeks to actualize outside of the acceptable tenets of international law.

Guyana sincerely appreciates the consistent support which it has received from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in our Hemisphere, and the wider international community, in its strenuous efforts to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thank you for your accommodation in allowing us to present our position in this important hemispheric forum.

The Caribbean Community notes the decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to conduct a popular referendum on defending Venezuela's claim to the Essequibo region. CARICOM further notes that two of the questions approved to be posed in a referendum, if answered in the affirmative, will authorize the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to embark on the annexation of territory which constitutes part of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and to create a state within Venezuela known as the Gu yana Essequiba. CARICOM reaffirms that international law strictly prohibits the government of one state from unilaterally seizing, annexing, or incorporating territory of another state. An affirmative vote, as emphasized, opens the door to the possible vio lation of this fundamental tenet of international law.

It is to be emphasized that the land and water in question, the Essequibo region of Guyana, comprises more than two-thirds of the whole of Guyana itself. CARICOM notes that the language of two questions approved to be posed in a referendum seeks an affirma tion and implementation of Venezuela’s stance on the issue, ‘by all means according to and within the law’. It is open to reasonable persons to conclude that ‘by all means’ includes means of force or war. CARICOM earnestly hopes Venezuela is not raising th e prospects of using force or military means to get its own way in this controversy over territory. After all, it has been a long-standing position of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, including Venezuela, that our region must remain a zone of peace.

Meanwhile, CARICOM insists that the referendum posed by Venezuela has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law in relation to this controversy. The referendum is a purely domestic construct, but its summary effect is likely to undermine peace, tranquility, security and more in our region. CARICOM reiterates its support for the judicial process and expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in that process before the International Court of Justice, which has determined that it has the jurisdiction, in the case

tranquility, security and more in our region. CARICOM reiterates its support for the judicial process and expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in that process before the International Court of Justice, which has determined that it has the jurisdiction, in the case brought before it, to determine the validity of the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 , which Venezuela questions. The Court's final decision will ensure a resolution that is peaceful, equitable, and in accordance with international law.- 8Chair, I wish, for purposes of this meeting, to reconfirm the full support of the Commonwealth of Dominica to this statement by CARICOM as a path towards a final resolution of this controversy.

Thank you, Chair.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much to the Ambassador of Dominica. And now I give the floor to the Alternate Representative of Antigua and Barbuda.

La REPRESENTANTE ALTERNA DE ANTIGUA Y BARBUDA: Thank you.

My delegation thanks the Prime Minister of Guyana for his enlightening presentation. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Antigua and Barbuda is a dedicated member, has made its position clear concerning the actions of the Government of Venezuela in its claim for two-thirds of Guyana's territory.

We are thankful to the coordinator of the CARICOM Regional Group for presenting the CARICOM position to this Permanent Council.

Chair, my delegation's stance on this matter is grounded in the principles of international law, including the United Nations (UN) Charter, which upholds the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

In this connection, we find ourselves deeply concerned by the announcement of the Venezuelan Government indicating its intention to conduct a referendum among its citizens on December 3. This referendum seeks to determine whether the Essequibo region shoul d be incorporated into Venezuela under the designation Guyana Essequiba, and it includes provisions for the issuance of passports and citizenship to the inhabitants of that area.

Government indicating its intention to conduct a referendum among its citizens on December 3. This referendum seeks to determine whether the Essequibo region shoul d be incorporated into Venezuela under the designation Guyana Essequiba, and it includes provisions for the issuance of passports and citizenship to the inhabitants of that area.

It is imperative to underscore that international law unequivocally prohibits any state from unilaterally seizing, annexing, or incorporating the territory of another sovereign state. In this context, an affirmative vote in favor of the referendum's questi ons raises legitimate concerns about a potential breach of this fundamental tenet of international law.

My delegation's primary concern is the maintenance of regional and international peace and stability, and we are troubled that any unilateral action could risk escalating tensions. The impending referendum, characterized by questions that seem designed to influence a predetermined outcome, appears to be a further attempt to legitimize the annexation of Essequibo.

It is crucial to emphasize that these questions ignore the existing Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which delineated the boundaries between Venezuela and Guyana. Moreover, they disregard the ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) aimed at determining the validity of this Award.

Additionally, the framing of the referendum questions raises concerns about Venezuela's willingness to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the ICJ, thereby potentially conflicting with the provisions of Article 92 and Article 93 of the United Nations (UN) Charter.- 9Article 92 asserts that the International Court of Justice shall be the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and Article 93 declares that all members of the United Nations are ipso facto parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice.

Venezuela's reluctance to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the ICJ is a matter of concern, as it can be interpreted as a departure from the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international law.

Venezuela has persistently claimed historic and legal rights to the Essequibo region of Guyana,

Venezuela's reluctance to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the ICJ is a matter of concern, as it can be interpreted as a departure from the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international law.

Venezuela has persistently claimed historic and legal rights to the Essequibo region of Guyana, which, if valid, could be laid before the Court. We urge Venezuela to participate in the ICJ process, which many of our member states have utilized and continue to use for peaceful and legal dispute settlement.

This process offers a neutral and lawful platform for addressing disputes, and adherence to them is in the best interest of all nations.

Chair, Antigua and Barbuda enjoys friendly relations with both Guyana and Venezuela. We would like to see a legal and peaceful settlement of this border matter through the international legal process in the interest of peace and prosperity of both nations.

In this regard, Antigua and Barbuda urges the international community, including this Organization of American States (OAS), to closely monitor these developments, particularly the forthcoming referendum, and to uphold the principles of international law a nd peaceful dispute resolution.

I thank you.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you, Antigua and Barbuda. And now I give the floor to Belize.

El REPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE DE BELIZE: Thank you, Chair.

Chair, I take the floor on behalf of the Government of Belize to fully align ourselves with the statement read by the Coordinator of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Caucus, His Excellency Ambassador Ferrol.

Chair, we sincerely thank Prime Minister Phillips for his informative statement on this issue that is of the utmost concern to all of us.

Belize declares our resolute and unwavering support for Guyana in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As we have heard, the ongoing dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has been a longstanding issue, and in 1899, an international tribunal ruled in favor of Guyana, then a British colony.

sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As we have heard, the ongoing dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has been a longstanding issue, and in 1899, an international tribunal ruled in favor of Guyana, then a British colony. That ruling, which was accepted and ratified by V