Venezuela-Guyana to hold talks on Essequibo

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Dec 2023 09:16

Talks with regional actors result in Caracas agreeing to meet with Georgetown to discuss the situation of Guyana Essequibo.

Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, left, and Chairman of the Special Commission for the Defense of Guyana Essequibo Hermann Escarra, shake hands after unveiling Venezuela's new map in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (AP)

In a diplomatic effort to address the ongoing territorial dispute with Guyana, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held phone discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves.

The talks resulted in Caracas agreeing to a meeting with Georgetown over the disputed territory, according to a statement released by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

"In these conversations, a proposal was received to hold a high-level meeting with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, which will be announced in the coming days, with the purpose of preserving our aspiration to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, without interference from external actors, in accordance with the agreements reached by both countries within the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a post on X.

Tensions have escalated between #Venezuela and #Guyana as the territorial dispute over #Essequibo has resurfaced.

Here's the history of the dispute between #Caracas and #Georgetown. pic.twitter.com/FX45hY35Ov
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 4, 2023

President Maduro also held a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who expressed a commitment to facilitate direct dialogue between the involved parties.

Talks to remedy rising tensions

Venezuelan broadcaster VTV recently reported a letter from Prime Minister Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, revealing plans for a meeting between President Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali on December 14. The letter emphasized the endorsement of the meeting by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), emphasizing the importance of preserving regional stability.

Gonsalves disclosed that both leaders, in negotiations with him, agreed to convene the meeting under the auspices of CELAC and Caricom, and extended an invitation to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to participate.

This comes following a proposal by the Venezuelan administration for a "high-level" meeting with Guyana on Saturday to discuss the rising tensions as the territorial dispute over Essequibo has resurfaced.

According to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made the offer during phone discussions with regional officials, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva.

The message did not explicitly specify that Guyana had consented to the discussions, but it did suggest that a date for the meeting would be announced in the coming days.