Guyanese have nothing to fear - Venezuelan Ambassador
VENEZUELAN Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Hector Azocar says Guyanese have nothing to fear from his country. His assurance came Wednesday when a small group picketed the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown over the border controversy. He told the Chronicle the controversy has been debated for many years under a mechanism to which Venezuela was committed and it looked forward to a practical solution in the framework of the Geneva Agreement. Azocar said he saw no reason why Guyanese should fear Venezuela, pointing out that when the history of the hemisphere and in particular Venezuela, was taken into consideration, the only time Venezuelans were fighting outside of their borders was to give freedom to the country and not to dominate. "I don't understand why then people who know this long tradition of this peaceful country like Venezuela will have a fear," he stressed. He argued that there was no need for any escalation of the problem as President Hugo Chavez has given the commitment that Venezuela will look for a fruitful solution with Guyana on the issue. Azocar said the border issue was not the only one between the two countries and they are in the process of organising meetings of the high level commissions agreed on by their Foreign Ministers three months ago. Commenting on the reported firing of shots by Venezuela troops in the border region earlier this month, the Ambassador said his understanding was that there was an operation by the National Guard of Venezuela against drug traffickers, but he maintained that this was not against Guyana. The National Guard is one of the four forces in Venezuela and a very important component of the armed forces of that country, he said. The National Guard is not a paramilitary group, he said. "We have to continue to look for ways to enhance our relations and friendship with Guyana, rather than escalate or create an atmosphere that does not exist among the peoples of these countries", he said. The demonstrators outside the embassy were led by Mr. Keith Scott, of the small National Democratic Movement (NDM). "We intend to make sure that all Guyanese become aware that Guyana is not for sale; we intend also to send a message to the Government of Guyana that the NDM stands fully behind them", Scott said. (WENDELLA DAVIDSON)
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