Guyana urges Venezuela to eschew aggression, respect sovereignty of other states

Guyana today observed the 59th anniversary of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, calling on neighbouring Venezuela to eschew aggression, pursue a path of peace, and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other States.
The Geneva Agreement provides the framework for resolving the controversy surrounding Venezuela’s unilateral attempt to nullify the legality of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively established the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
After 27 years of bilateral discussions between the two countries under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, and with Venezuela failing to prove its claim of nullity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, the Secretary-General, on the basis of Article IV(2) of the Geneva Agreement, chose the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the means for resolving the controversy.
In accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision, Guyana filed an application with the Court in March 2018, asking the Court to adjudge and declare, inter alia, that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on both Guyana and Venezuela.
The resolution of the controversy will come in the form of a final and binding judgment from the ICJ, under international law. The court has already ruled twice that it has jurisdiction under the Geneva Agreement to resolve the dispute over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the related question of the land boundary between the two countries.
Both states have participated in the proceedings before the court, and oral hearings are expected to be held in 2026, followed by the Court’s judgment. Guyana has pledged to abide by the ruling, as both countries are legally bound under the United Nations Charter.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has noted that “despite the internationally recognised lawful process, Venezuela continues to misinterpret, undermine, and violate the 1966 Geneva Agreement and the rule of international law, particularly through its provocative, illegal, and aggressive actions aimed at annexing and exercising control over Guyana’s sovereign territory.”
The ministry reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to international law, the sanctity of treaties, and full compliance with the judicial process currently before the ICJ.
“As we mark this anniversary, Guyana calls on its sister republic to eschew aggression and colonialist tendencies and pursue a path of peace, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other States, and the rule of international law,” the ministry said.