In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, host of the meeting between Presidents Nicolás Maduro and Irfaan Ali, it was agreed that the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana will be resolved in accordance with International Law, including the 1966 Geneva Agreement.
In the Argyle Joint Declaration, signed by the delegations attending the high-level dialogue, both governments commit to the search for mechanisms that contribute to the peaceful coexistence and unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Below is the joint statement by Presidents Nicolás Maduro and Irfaan Ali at the conclusion of the day of dialogue in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
JOINT ARGYLE DECLARATION FOR DIALOGUE AND PEACE BETWEEN GUYANA AND VENEZUELA
“On Thursday, December 14, 2023, in Argyle, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and His Excellency Nicolás Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, held discussions on matters relevant to the territory in dispute between their two countries.
These discussions were facilitated by the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Pro-Tempore President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves; and the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica and President of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Roosevelt Skerrit. Prime Ministers Gonsalves and Skerrit, together with H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim, Special Advisor and Personal Envoy of H.E. President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, acted as main interlocutors. Also present were the honorable Prime Ministers of the Caribbean Community, namely: the honorable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas; the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; the Honorable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada; the Honorable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; the Honorable Terrence Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Attending as observers, representing His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, were His Excellencies Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Miroslav Jenca, Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations. In addition, the Hon. Mr. Álvaro Leyva Durán, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia and Mr. Gerardo Torres Zelaya, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Honduras, in his capacity as Troika of the CELAC.
All parties attending the Argyle meeting (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) reiterated their commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean continuing to be a Zone of Peace.
Guyana and Venezuela declared the following:
1. Was agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against each other under any circumstances, including those arising from any dispute existing between both States.
2. Was agreed that any dispute between the two States will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966.
3. Were committed to the pursuit of good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. Was taken note of Guyana’s assertion that it is committed to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice for the resolution of the border dispute. Was taken note of Venezuela’s assertion of its lack of consent and lack of acknowledgment of the International Court of Justice and its jurisdiction in the border dispute.
5. Was agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending issues of mutual importance to the two countries.
6. Was agreed that both States will refrain, whether in word or deed, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them. The two States will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground that may lead to tensions between them. In the event of an incident of this type, the two States will immediately communicate with each other, with the Caribbean community (Caricom), with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and with the President of Brazil in order to contain, reverse and prevent any incident from happening again.
7. Was agreed to immediately establish a joint commission of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and technicians of the two States to address mutually agreed issues. An update from this joint commission will be presented to the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela within three months.
8. Both States agreed that Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves, Pro-Tempore President of CELAC, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Acting President of Caricom, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil will continue to address the matter as interlocutors and the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, as Observer, with the permanent attendance of Presidents Irfaan Ali and Nicolás Maduro. For the avoidance of doubt, Prime Minister Gonsalves’ role will continue even after Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ceases to be the Pro-Tempore President of CELAC, within the framework of the CELAC Troika plus one; and the role of Prime Minister Skerrit will continue as a member of the Caricom Bureau.
9. Both States agreed to meet again in Brazil, within the next three months, or at another agreed time, to consider any matter with implications for the disputed territory, including the aforementioned update of the mixed commission.
10. Was expressed gratitude to Prime Ministers Gonsalves and Skerrit, to President Lula and his Personal Envoy Celso Amorim, to all other Caricom Prime Ministers present, to the officials of the Caricom Secretariat, to the CELAC Troika and the Head of the CELAC PTP Secretariat in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Dr. Douglas Slater, for their respective roles in the success of this meeting.
11. Was expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their kind facilitation and hospitality of this meeting.”
Dated December 14, 2023.
