By Vanessa Cort
IN a few days, on Saturday, May 16, countries will celebrate the International Day of Living Together in Peace as war rages on across the globe.
The most recent hostility began in February when the United States attacked Iran, killing its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, now involves several countries in the Middle East. Israel, which, along with the US, then launched joint strikes against Iran, soon turned its attention to Lebanon, attacking the Hezbollah group, which has ties with Iran.
The Iranians have retaliated by bombing sites in both Israel and countries in the Persian Gulf, particularly targeting American bases there.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Iran and Lebanon has mounted into the thousands and the destruction is considerable throughout the region.
Conflicting statements have been made by the US about the purpose of the war, though the American president, Donald Trump , holds fast to his claim that it is primarily intended to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability.
Now, with an uneasy ceasefire in effect and after more than a month of hostilities, it is unclear whether this objective has been achieved.
Regime change, another apparent reason for the war, has not been successful, as the Ayatollah’s son, Mojtabi Khamenei, is seemingly now in charge.
Further, the Iranians have closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the passage of a quarter of the world’s oil.
This has led to severe economic repercussions in countries around the world, including the United States, where gas prices continue to rise and necessary agricultural supplies are being hampered.
International attention has now shifted away from the other current major wars – Israel/Palestine and Russia/Ukraine – not to mention hostilities currently taking place in several other countries around the world.
Closer to home, Venezuela has been challenging Guyana’s territorial integrity and claiming almost two-thirds of our country. And in an ominous gesture, the Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has been openly wearing a brooch showing the disputed Essequibo region as part of Venezuela.
The border controversy is currently before the International Court of Justice and the formal hearing has now begun, with both sides presenting arguments. Guyana’s representatives at the Court include the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hilton Todd; Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall and a seasoned group of international lawyers.
As I write this, the Iranians and Americans have been ‘trading shots’ despite the ceasefire and the situation remains so volatile that it is doubtful whether the two countries will be able to come to an agreement without further hostilities.
However, the hope is that the negotiations between the US and Iran, being brokered by Pakistan, will ultimately prove successful and similarly, that the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy before the ICJ will be resolved peacefully.
It is against this scenario that nations will be celebrating a Day of Peace with a theme that could not be more timely – “Living Together in Peace: building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation.”
The point is well made by UNESCO that, “…dialogue is not a ceremonial gesture or a matter of good intentions alone, it is one of the ways societies begin to repair damaged relationships, ease tensions and create the conditions for peace to hold.”
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
