Beal no hindrance to search for solution
THE Government of Guyana has said that the Beal Investment in the North West region of this country will be no hindrance to the search for a solution to the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy. In a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night, the Government said that it "rejects as interference" the statement issued recently by Venezuela opposing the agreement between Guyana and Beal Aerospace Technologies. According to the statement, nothing in the Geneva Agreement of 1966 hinders the PPP-Civic Administration from implementing its domestic policy in respect of the Essequibo. The release stated: "The Government of Guyana rejects as interference in the country's internal affairs, the statement issued by the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela opposing the recently concluded agreement between the Government of Guyana and Beal Aerospace Technologies Ltd. "The Government of Guyana wishes to reaffirm that nothing in the Geneva Agreement of 1966 hinders or prohibits the PPP-Civic Administration from implementing its domestic policy in respect of the Essequibo which is an integral part of Guyana's national territory." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that in this regard, the Government of Guyana deplores Venezuela's continuing obstructionist policy towards foreign investments in Guyana. The release reiterated that the Government of Guyana upholds the view that locally generated initiatives to encourage foreign direct investment, and to facilitate national development in the Essequibo should not in any way jeopardise the search for a solution to the controversy under the aegis of the Good Offices of the Secretary General of the United Nations. "Guyana is committed, on the basis of its National Development Strategy to the pursuance of policies aimed at eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment and raising the standard of living of the Guyanese people. "Guyana and Venezuela as members of the Group of Seventy Seven (G77) are committed to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty, unemployment, and social disintegration. Both Governments recognise the important role which foreign direct investment can play in national development and subsequently the removal of social and economic problems in their respective societies." "In this regard, it is apposite to recall at the South Summit held in Havana, Cuba in April this year, World Leaders agreed inter alia - to uphold the principles of sovereignty and the sovereign quality of States, territorial integrity and the non-intervention in the internal affairs of any State." "The Heads among whom were Presidents Chavez and Jagdeo also agreed to: `refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.'" "Further, the leaders proclaimed that their highest priority is to overcome under-development and that all nations have the right to development." The release concluded: "The Government of Guyana reiterates its strong desire to maintain and further develop bilateral cooperation with the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela within the framework of the High Level Bilateral Commission and in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
 Follow the goings-on in Guyana
|