The present dialogue between Guyana and Venezuela would allow for problems related to the border controversy to be overcome.

This was the sentiment of the two foreign ministers at a joint press conference they hosted on Tuesday at the conclusion of the second meeting of the Guyana Venezuela High Level Bilateral Commission.

Responding to questions about Venezuela's stance on investment in the Essequibo region to which it lays claim, Guyana's Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally told reporters that the Guyana government felt no constraint given the text of the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

He conceded that there were difficulties created by the Venezuelan stance but that in the spirit of the dialogue it was agreed to discuss them in the hope of eventually overcoming the problems they posed.

Insanally observed that a lot depended on the animus in which the talks were approached and though the two countries had differing views the dialogue would facilitate a meeting of minds on a solution to some of the problems.

His Venezuelan counterpart, Luis Alfonso Davila agreed, saying that the two countries had inherited a problem and that every problem had a solution. He stressed that under the Geneva Agreement the two countries were compelled to search for the best solution to the problem and that both governments had the will to find the best solution.

Earlier Davila reiterated his government's commitment to the United Nations Good Officer process and said that it had named Luis Herara Marcana as its new facilitator. With Marcana's appointment, Davila said that it was now possible for an early meeting between the two facilitators and the UN Good Officer, Oliver Jackman, and later with UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, Jackman, himself and Insanally.

He said that the great interest of the Guyana government to seek an equitable solution was what the Venezuelan government had expected of it.

Insanally commenting on Marcana's appointment, said that he was not only a legal luminary but was also well respected in the international community.

About the govermment's position, Insanally asserted that the commitment to pursue a solution under the Geneva Agreement did not indicate a change in its fundamental position. He said that "true conflicts" in the world and the events following September 11 had not allowed for the normal consultation with the UN Secretary General to take place last year.

He observed that the UN Good Officer process provided for the facilitators to present ideas to the Good Officer in the search for a peaceful resolution.