In a move geared to diffuse tensions, Guyana and Venezuela have signed a joint declaration to negotiate the delimitation of maritime boundaries between the two countries.The agreement was signed on Friday between Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro.Venezuela’s eluniversal.com online news yesterday reported Guyana as saying in the agreement that it recognizes 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).Announcements were made Thursday by the two countries that an emergency meeting has been set up in Trinidad, a neutral territory, for a meeting to reduce rising tensions, especially by Venezuela’s opposition parties and a number of fringe groups.“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,” the agreement stated.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,Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, where the two Ministers reviewed various matters of mutual interest.”Mutual interestsThe text of the document highlights that “several issues of mutual interest, including Good Offices,Cheap Jerseys From China,” were reviewed, eluniversal reported.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,cheap nfl jerseys, characterized by respect,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, fraternity and solidarity.“They agree that now Guyana and Venezuela develop cooperation projects in diverse areas,Cheap NFL Jerseys, 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.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 nautical 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 Professor Norman Girvan about their conversations,” added the statement.Guyana, Venezuela for high-level meeting in T&T todayExtensionEarly last month, Guyana announced that it had applied to the United Nations to extend its continental shelf by a further 150 nautical miles.Since the announcement,China Jerseys, there have been several statements from groups in Venezuela which felt that an age-old claim by that country on a large portion on Essequibo may be under threat.The issue even had Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez warning that he will not allow “some sectors there (Guyana) or here (Venezuela) to create internal conflicts. We will not let that happen.”One fringe group reportedly started its protests to whip up Venezuela’s sentiments by distributing maps of Venezuela showing Essequibo as part of that country’s territory.The rumblings have been serious enough to persuade the two countries to meet.
