FRANK LÓPEZ BALLESTEROS| EL UNIVERSAL
Monday February 06, 2012 11:47 AM
The Venezuelan Foreign Office has failed to bring forward a report to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), to present Venezuela's official position on the Guyana's request to the United Nations seeking an extension of its continental shelf, which was submitted by the English-speaking country on September 7, 2011.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which at first refused it had been informed about Guyana's request, despite the fact that the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown had alerted Caracas, claimed in September 2011 that it would "take its stance." However, no report has been introduced yet, CLCS sources told El Universal in response to a request for information.
As the Foreign Ministry has a five-month delay to present Venezuela's position, Guyana could argue that Venezuela has no objection to Guyana's submission and that Venezuela is tacitly admitting its neighbor's position. This attitude can favor Guyana in the claim on the Essequibo territory.
Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett and her Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro met on September 30, 2011 in Trinidad and Tobago.
The diplomatic envoys signed a joint declaration. At that time, Venezuela pledged to "present its views to the Commission."
http://www.eluniversal.com/nac...ort-on-the-essequibo
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