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Guyana confident of victory at ICJ in Venezuela border case – Pres. Ali
(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali said Friday that Guyana is confident that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold the 1899 arbitral award establishing the country’s border with Venezuela, as the long-running territorial dispute entered its final phase.
Guyana is now awaiting a ruling from the world court in its border controversy case against Venezuela, with a decision expected by or before January 2027.
During a news conference, Ali praised Guyana’s legal and diplomatic teams for presenting what he described as a strong case before the United Nations court.
“All that now remains is for the court to deliberate on the matter before it, especially on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award that determined the international boundary between the two countries, and issue its final judgment, which will be legally binding on both parties,” he said, adding that Guyana expected a ruling “at the end of this year.”
President Irfaan Ali
The case centres on the Essequibo region, a resource-rich territory comprising nearly two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass.
Venezuela has long claimed the area despite the 1899 ruling that fixed the border.
Ali described the proceedings as “a triumph for the rule of law and the rules-based international order”, arguing that disputes between states “must be resolved peacefully” and “never be resolved by threat or use of military force”.
He reiterated that Guyana would respect the court’s judgment “whatever it may be”, while criticising statements from Venezuelan officials rejecting the ICJ’s jurisdiction.
“We have heard the statements of Venezuelan officials that they do not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction and will not abide by its rulings,” he said, warning that such a position would breach obligations under international law.
Despite tensions, Ali said Guyana would continue to pursue peaceful relations with Venezuela while insisting that its sovereignty be respected.
“We hope that after passions recede and responsible government officials reflect, they will conclude, as we have done, that both states are best served by an end to this longstanding conflict and that the only way to secure a just and lasting peace and enduring friendship is by respect for and compliance with the court’s final judgment, whatever it may be, as required by the United Nations Charter,” President Ali said.
Meanwhile, speaking on his ‘Issues in the News programme,’ Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C said oral hearings in the matter were concluded on May 11 after Guyana, as the claimant, presented its case, Venezuela responded, and both sides were given an opportunity to reply.
“The oral hearings concluded on the 11th of May, and we now await a date for ruling. We anticipate that the ruling will be handed down by or before January 2027,” Nandlall said.
Guyana brought the case before the ICJ in 2018, seeking confirmation that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the boundary between the two countries, is legally valid. The award had been accepted for over 60 years before Venezuela declared it null in 1962 and revived its claim to the territory.
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