The executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, reported on Thursday her satisfaction at being able to defend the historical truth of Venezuela in the first hearing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, and demonstrate her rights over the Essequibo.
“We are very satisfied with this first hearing because Venezuela has been able to bring and defend its historical truth, which is that Venezuela is the only heir with ownership on the territory of Guayana Esequiba, the Vice President pointed out after her speech.” She also celebrated the performance of the top-level team that accompanied Venezuela’s intervention before the international organization, highlighting the participation of lawyers from Europe and Latin America.
Regarding his intervention before the ICJ, Rodríguez added that, with compelling evidence, the arguments presented by Guyana on a unilateral demand that does not make sense were completely distorted. “It is a demand that deals with the arbitration award of 1899, where Guyana did not even exist as a Republic, and they intend a century later to wash the face of the United Kingdom, from the spoils, occupations in other countries.”
In this regard, he stressed that Venezuela was stripped of its territory by fraud motivated by extractivist reasons. There is evidence that our team has shown, he said.
He also added that the fraud was exposed. “Guyana’s position is very stingy, we have distorted it with legal evidence that shows our ownership of our territory. The fraud has been fully evidenced,” Rodríguez asserted.
Demonstrated inadmissibility of the claim
This Thursday Venezuela demonstrated before the International Court of Justice the inadmissibility of the unilateral claim presented by Guyana on Guyana Esequiba, which violates the Geneva agreement, to favor energy transnationals.
In this regard, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stressed that Guyana seeks to ignore the Geneva Agreement to resolve the controversy, and reiterated her satisfaction with the precise demonstration of the Venezuelan lawyers.
Likewise, regarding the territorial dispute, the Vice President reaffirmed that the only path to a solution is amicable settlement.
«We extend our hand so that we return to the negotiating table and find a solution. Venezuela has always been recognized for its Diplomacy of Peace and we maintain good neighborly relations,” Rodríguez said from The Hague.