MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, believes that ongoing discussions hosted by the UN Mission dispatched by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, will be completed early next year. Greenidge, in an invited comment, told this publication that “a few more cycles” left before the UN Secretary General chooses “a means of resolution.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister’s comments came following the conclusion of meetings held in Guyana over the past two days between the Government of Guyana and the UN Mission team headed by Susanna Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet.
Guyana has maintained that the juridical route is best suited to bring an end to the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. Venezuela, on the other hand, has called for the restart of the Good Officer’s Process. The UN Secretary General has, over the past few months, dispatched a UN Mission to both countries aimed at bringing to an end the age old border controversy.
The UN Mission which arrived in Guyana on Thursday and are leaving today comprised of Yvette Blanco, David Hutchinson and Guillermo Kendall.
Greenidge anticipates that by early next year the UN Secretary General may be in a better position to make a decision.
The UN Mission paid a courtesy call on President David Granger and held meetings with Greenidge and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those discussions are intended to inform the Secretary General’s choice to a resolution.
The Mission’s visits to Guyana are part of an ongoing effort of the UN Secretary General to assist both Guyana and Venezuela in the search for a solution to the controversy that arose from the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899, that established the land boundary between the new countries are null and void, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

By Ariana Gordon