– Gov’t awaiting ‘critical decision.’

GOVERNMENT is optimistic that Venezuela’s challenge to Guyana’s internationally accepted territory will soon be resolved by the United Nations, Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, told the Government Information Agency (GINA). He said that except for the normal conduit of communication via the embassies on routine matters, dialogue is taking place, “via the Secretary-General (SG) of the United Nations.”
The minister said that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is speaking to Government with a view to, “choosing finally the options for the resolution of the disagreement between the two sides.”

According to Greenidge, a UN delegation was in Guyana last weekend for discussions on the issue. The team then travelled to Venezuela for discussions with that country’s government.
“They should be back in Washington, USA, shortly and one would expect to hear from the SG as to what he is going to do and when he is likely to make a decision.” Greenidge said.
According to the foreign minister, the government is now awaiting what he described as a very critical decision.

“That is what the dialogue is all about at this time…It has implications for Guyana’s economic status and we hope that the SG will see his way with choosing a path that helps us to move forward, and remove Venezuela from blocking our path to economic development.” he told GINA.
Venezuela has repeatedly made claims to parts of Guyana’s territory, in violation of internationally accepted treaties. These claims have always been rebuffed by Guyana, which holds that the issue of the border was settled by the arbitral award of 1899. [GINA]