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Venezuela, Guyana reach agreement to negotiate maritime border -
Diplomacy | After a meeting between NicolΓ‘s Maduro and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett


EL UNIVERSAL
Saturday October 01, 2011 10:47 AM
Source - El Universal

Guyana stated that it recognized the right of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to present its views to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). For its part, Venezuela recalled its legitimate right to sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Atlantic Front. Both foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Geneva Agreement

It was a long meeting, Venezuelan FM NicolΓ‘s Maduro told television network Telesur (Photo: @ IzarraDeVerdad)

The diplomatic envoys of Venezuela and Guyana signed a joint declaration in which Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela NicolΓ‘s Maduro and his counterpart of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pledged to "negotiate the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the two States."

According to official information disclosed by state-run news agency Agencia Venezolana de Noticias (AVN), the joint statement "was signed on Friday in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, where the two ministers reviewed various matters of mutual interest." The text of the document highlights that "several issues of mutual interest, including Good Offices," were reviewed.

They expressed their satisfaction "at the superb relations developed between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to maintain this level."

"They recognize the historical level they have reached in bilateral relations, characterized by respect, fraternity and solidarity. They agree that now Guyana and Venezuela develop cooperation projects in diverse areas, and strengthen their integration into mechanisms such as the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), Petrocaribe, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Clacs), with the conviction that the ties that unite them overcome their legacy of divide inherited from colonialism."

"Guyana stated that it recognized the right of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to present its views to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). For its part, Venezuela recalled its legitimate right to sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Atlantic Front," read the document.

The ministers agreed that in the future their facilitators will discuss topics related to Guyana's request to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) -seeking an extension of Guyana's continental shelf by 150,000 miles- and inform their respective governments. "Both Ministers recognize that the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the two States remains an unresolved issue and agreed that such a solution will require negotiations," stressed the statement.

"Recognizing that the dispute concerning the Arbitral Award of 1899 on the border between Guyana and Venezuela continues to exist, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Geneva Agreement and the Good Offices. They recognized that this dispute is a legacy from colonialism and should be resolved. The ministers informed the UN Secretary General's Personal Representative Prof. Norman Girvan about their conversations," added the statement.

Finally, the foreign ministers of Guyana and Venezuela thanked the government of Trinidad and Tobago for its excellent support in facilitating this meeting.

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