A statement considered as “unusual and interventionist” the request of the neighboring country and ratified its historical position of not recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICJ “to settle the territorial controversy” over the Essequiba Guyana, especially in view of the existence of the Geneva Agreement of 1966.
The text read by Executive Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez before the national and foreign press at the Miraflores Palace, seat of the Government, made reference to Guyana’s express request that “the consultative referendum not be held or that questions one, three and five be modified”.
He indicated that in its decision, the Court “dismissed -as a whole- this unheard and unfounded request”, which relates to a matter of Venezuela’s exclusive domain.
Nothing in international law allowed the Court to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs, nor to pretend to prohibit or modify a sovereign act organized within the framework of its participatory political system and based on its Constitution, it reaffirmed.
The note valued that with this decision it was demonstrated that Guyana “is not a victim, does not have titles over the disputed territory, is a de facto occupant and has repeatedly violated the Geneva Agreement and international legality”, by unilaterally granting concessions in the land territory and in the waters pending to be delimited.
In addition to facilitating its territory for “the military deployment in our region of the main warlike power on the planet”.
Venezuela, as it had announced and in accordance with its Constitution, “will go ahead with all the preparations to carry out the consultative referendum called by the Electoral Power at the request of the Venezuelan Parliament.
He assured that “nothing and nobody will prevent the Venezuelan people from expressing themselves freely” on Sunday on “a matter of their own, internal and of enormous transcendence, such as territorial integrity”.
Venezuela reiterated that it will firmly maintain its unwavering defense of international legality and the Geneva Agreement as “the only legal instrument” that allows reaching a practical and satisfactory solution for both parties, through friendly, political and peaceful negotiations.
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