Rangel proposes joint exploitation of Essequibo --El Nacional Stabroek News August 20, 2000 Venezuela is willing to carry out joint exploitation of the Essequibo region with Guyana, according to that country's Foreign Minister Jose Vincente Rangel. The Venezuelan daily reported Rangel as saying in an interview with the Associated Press that Venezuela had proposed to the Guyana government the possibility of "shared exploration" of some of the resources of Essequibo. "I think that an agreement... can mean a relaunching economically for Guyana. It can mean important collaboration for Venezuela," he was quoted as saying. But Rangel noted that such a proposal "was not the definite desideratum of the reclamation. The reclamation has a sea component and a land component as well. A political settlement is much more important than this situation of really unnecessary uncertainty and tension." Rangel was reported as ruling out the use of force, despite the "numerous concessions" Guyana was giving out, which he said had ruined the attempts of the Chavez government to arrive at a settlement. "It has always been a deliberate policy on the part of Guyana to hinder an agreement." Nevertheless Rangel said he had hopes for the upcoming meetings between the Facilitators of both countries and the UN Good Officer Oliver Jackman. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today