Press Release
On January 25, 2024, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Guyana and Venezuela held their first meeting of the Joint Commission in Brasilia, Brazil. This meeting was in line with the Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace that was agreed upon after the meeting of the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela on December 14, 2023.
According to Paragraph 7 of the Declaration, the two states agreed to immediately establish a joint commission comprising of the Foreign Ministers and technical persons from both countries. The commission was to address matters that were mutually agreed upon, and an update was to be submitted to the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela within three months.
At the meeting, Guyana proposed an agenda, and Minister Hugh Todd, who was the head of Guyana’s delegation, explained that Guyana’s position regarding the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela had not changed. Guyana maintained that the settlement of this controversy was properly before the International Court of Justice in accordance with the Geneva Agreement. Therefore, it must remain there until the Court gives its final ruling on the merits of the case, which will be fully respected by Guyana. Guyana will not undermine the judicial process or the Geneva Agreement by participating in any other means of settlement of the controversy as long as it is pending before the Court.
Minister Todd suggested that regional and hemispheric statements on peace and security could be a means of moving forward in the discussions. He also offered a number of areas that the two countries could discuss, including agreements already entered into between them on drugs, Jet A1 Fuel, and matters relating to food security.
Guyana reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the Argyle Declaration, particularly the maintenance of peace in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country looked forward to the next meeting to advance the relationship between Guyana and Venezuela.
Finally, Minister Todd expressed his sincere appreciation to the Foreign Minister of Brazil, HE Mauro Vieira, for facilitating the discussions. He also thanked the representatives of CELAC and the United Nations for attending as observers.
January 25, 2024
