Three international bodies pledge support for Guyana
by Robert Bazil
GUYANA has recently received support and solidarity for its position on the border dispute with Venezuela, from three difference bodies, Foreign Minister Clement Rohee reported yesterday. Rohee told a press conference that pledges of support were received from the Ministerial Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, the United Kingdom-Caribbean Forum and the recent Meeting of the Council of Foreign and Community Relations in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Rohee, who recently returned to Guyana, the Ministerial Conference of Non-Aligned Countries has a paragraph in the political declaration on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy Additionally, a statement was adopted on the issue by the UK/Caribbean Forum on Guyana and Belize. The statement from the UK/Caribbean Forum said that participants of the caucus held in London from May 11 to 12, have been following events surrounding the Belize/Guatemala border dispute and also the territorial claim by Venezuela to the Essequibo Region of Guyana. "We are deeply disturbed by the emerging patterns of border incidents on Belize's border with Guatemala and its implications for Belize's security," the statement noted. The Forum urged Belize and Guatemala to implement confidence-building measures and to continue genuine and serious political dialogue to find a definitive settlement in the long-standing dispute in accordance with the principles of international law. The participants welcomed the progress being made under the high-level bilateral mechanism between Guyana and Venezuela and viewed this as a positive indication of the interest of both countries for promoting closer relations and enhanced functional cooperation. "We recall and reaffirm the strong support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Durban in November 1999 and the CARICOM Heads meeting in St. Kitts Nevis in March 2000 for the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of Belize and Guyana," the statement said. Rohee said that Guyana will maintain a strong diplomatic offensive and will be prepared at the military level to protect its borders. But, he pointed out, Guyana is more concerned with the diplomatic offensive. With respect to the Guyana Government's decision to be more aggressive in sensitising the world and in winning as much support as possible regarding its position in connection with the border controversy with Venezuela, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made. Minister Rohee said he is pleased with Guyana's foreign policy initiative, the advances made, and the focus over the past few months. "We have indeed established quite a lot and we are, as you know, pushing and seeking to win greater support for certain foreign policy initiatives and directions which the Government holds very closely to its policy orientation," he said. The Minister referred to the call for a new Human Global Human Order which treats with North-South relations, and seeks equity and justice in the international, economic and political arenas. He said that a new lease on life has been given to countries in the South in the wake of the South Summit in Havana. The Non-Aligned Summit of Foreign Ministers was also held in Havana prior to the South Summit. And at both of these meetings, there were political declarations and expressions of sympathy and support for Guyana's call for a New Global Human Order, which concept was the brainchild of Guyana's late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan.
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