President Ali Reaffirms Guyana’s Stance on Border Controversy at UN
By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News
Georgetown, Guyana – President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed Guyana’s unwavering stance in the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela, declaring that Guyana will remain a peaceful state despite repeated threats and aggression from its western neighbor.
Speaking during the 78th Sitting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, President Ali called on Venezuela to refrain from attempts to alter the regional status quo.
“Yet Venezuela persists with unilateral laws and threats of annexation, flagrantly violating international law, the UN Charter, and the very principles that sustain global order,” President Ali stated.
He warned that if the rights of smaller states are disregarded and legally binding international rulings ignored, the very foundation of international law would be undermined.
Complete Confidence in International Law
Despite Venezuela’s continuous threats, the President stressed that Guyana has complete confidence in international law, noting that the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference are non-negotiable.
“We will not cower to coercion, intimidation, or unilateral action. We thank our international partners and allies for their solidarity,” Ali declared.
The long-standing border controversy stems from Venezuela’s claim that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively settled the boundary, was null and void. At the heart of the dispute is the resource-rich Essequibo region, which has been administered by Guyana for more than a century but is claimed by Venezuela.
The matter is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), yet Venezuela remains defiant, continuing to assert its territorial claims despite ongoing international proceedings.
