As he addressed fellow world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Dr. Irfaan Ali urged Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the border controversy.
“In full respect for international law, Guyana participated and encouraged Venezuela to participate in the proceedings of the ICJ.
“Now that we have both participated in the hearings which were completed in May 2026, we urge Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming ruling in accordance with their obligation under the UN Charter, as Guyana will do,” President Ali told the UN on Thursday.
The controversy centres on the Essequibo region, a vast, resource-rich area that makes up more than two-thirds of Guyana’s territory but is claimed by Venezuela. The case was taken to the ICJ after decades of talks failed. Over the years, the ICJ has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case and that Guyana’s claims are admissible, clearing the way for the recent hearings on the merits.
Guyana has asked the court to confirm that the boundary defined in an 1899 Arbitral Award and demarcated in the 1905 agreement remains the lawful international border.
Guyana filed the case in 2018 after the United Nations Secretary-General referred the matter to the ICJ under the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
At the UN just a day before, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez asked Guyana to return to direct negotiations with her country over the border controversy. However, Guyana’s President said the country remains committed to the process unfolding in the World Court.
President Ali also said he looks forward to improved relations with Venezuela.
“We look forward to a new era of neighbourly relations in the interest of our peoples, the development of our countries and the stability and prosperity of our region,” he said.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
