PEACE is more than the absence of war. It is about respecting the rule of international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

Regrettably, too often these fundamental principles governing international conduct and behaviour are honoured in the breach. One only has to look at the continuing devastation of the war in Ukraine and Gaza to see the trail of death and destruction that war has engendered.

It is in the above context that the call by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for the Caribbean and Latin America to be a platform for peace has to be seen. The President expressed concern over what he termed the ‘senseless acts of aggression and inhumanity that have thwarted the global community’s efforts to alleviate the sufferings of affected citizens.’

This region, he said, must never allow itself to be subjected to such actions, as he recalled the ravages of war on the lives of people in Palestine and Ukraine. He used the opportunity to reiterate his call for an end to the genocide in Palestine and the release of hostages.

In his address to leaders of the Eighth Summit of the Community of Caribbean and Latin American States (CELAC), President Ali made it abundantly clear that Guyana will respect and abide by the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in relation to the controversy arising out of Venezuela’s refusal to accept the 1899 Arbitral Award which fully and finally settled the boundaries of the two neighbouring countries, namely Guyana and Venezuela.

According to President Ali, “Guyana’s priority is peace, and you can have the confidence that our territory will never ever be used as a platform for war.”

It will be recalled that Guyana agreed to talks initiated by the Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines aimed at facilitating dialogue with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicholas Maduro to address tensions that had arisen between the two countries.

That historic meeting culminated in what is now famously known as the Argyle Declaration, which, in fact, resulted in a de-escalation of tension for which Prime Minister Gonsalves was lauded by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

He has been high in praise for the Prime Minister for his role ‘in pulling back Guyana and Venezuela from the brink of conflict over the Essequibo region.’

The Secretary-General, during his recent address to leaders of CELAC, strongly supported the use of solely peaceful means to settle international controversies, a position that is fully congruent with that of Guyana.

Indeed, as noted by President Ali, “Everything we do in Guyana is built on peace and our fundamental values are built on peace.”

The fact is that peace is a necessary condition for development. This is true of Guyana as it is for any other nation of the world, including Venezuela and the region as a whole. In an environment of war, there can be no winners. War, therefore, can be regarded as an ‘ill-wind’ that blows no one any good, as events in Ukraine and Gaza have so painfully demonstrated.

In this regard, the position taken by President Ali and Guyana on the issue of peace in the region and the world at large is commendable. Guyana has always embraced the principles of global peace as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

By taking its case to the ICJ and publicly declaring its intention to abide by the decisions of that Court, Guyana has demonstrated maturity as a rules-based and peace loving nation, ready and willing to play by the rules governing international and civilised behaviour.