Government reiterates validity of Paris Award
The Government of Guyana has reiterated its intention to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana in the face of the contention by Venezuela that the 1899 Arbitral Award was null and void and its resulting claim to the territory of the Essequibo. In a message through the Foreign Ministry issued on October 3, the centennial anniversary of the award, the Government of Guyana restated its acceptance of the validity of the award which settled for all time the existing border between Guyana and Venezuela. It also restated its commitment to finding a peaceful settlement to the controversy under the auspices of the United Nations Good Officer process. "The Government of Guyana maintains that the Essequibo region is an integral part of the territory of Guyana. It is therefore the government's intention to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana," the message said. It said too that the government "remained committed to the UN Good Officer Process under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General as provided for in Article IV (2) of the 1966 Geneva agreement with a view to a peaceful settlement of this controversy." In closing, the statement noted that Guyana will continue to work with the Government of Venezuela towards the maintenance and strengthening of existing bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation.
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