Venezuela submits key arguments to ICJ in border case with Guyana

Last Updated on Monday, 8 April 2024, 13:38 by Denis Chabrol

Despite last year’s questionable referendum that rejected the International Court of Justice as the means of settling the border controversy, Venezuela has submitted arguments to the World Court.

The Guyana government on Monday welcomed Venezuela’s decision to do so. “Guyana has repeatedly called on Venezuela to participate fully in the judicial proceedings and comply with the Court’s rulings, and therefore welcomes Venezuela’s submissions on the substantive issues that the Court will ultimately decide,” the Foreign Ministry here said.

The move also comes after several months of Caracas’ sabre-rattling, troop deployment near the border with Guyana and related breaches of a World Court decision and a CARICOM-CELAC brokered declaration between President Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro.

Following is the full text of the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana takes notice that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela made a submission today to the International Court of Justice in keeping with the Court’s stipulated timeline for the receipt of Venezuela’s Counter Memorial on the merits of the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) which is pending before it.

This case, which was filed by Guyana in March 2018, seeks the Court’s decision on the validity of the Arbitral Award which finally determined the land boundary between the two countries. The Court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction over the controversy and will decide the issue on the merits.

Guyana has repeatedly called on Venezuela to participate fully in the judicial proceedings and comply with the Court’s rulings, and therefore welcomes Venezuela’s submissions on the substantive issues that the Court will ultimately decide. Guyana notes that CARICOM and the Commonwealth and other members of the international community have also been urging Venezuela to participate in the proceedings before the ICJ.

Guyana considers that it is beneficial to the Court to have before it the submissions of both parties on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the settlement of the international boundary. Guyana made its submissions in April 2023. With the submissions of both States before it, the Court will be able to take all arguments and evidence into account and issue a more informed judgement, which will be final and binding on the parties.

Guyana has consistently pledged to abide by the Court’s Judgement.

April 8, 2024