Venezuelan decree a ‘legal nullity’ – President Ali

“I remind that sovereignty over this coast, and the land territory to which it is attached, were awarded to Guyana (then British Guiana) in the 1899 Arbitral Award, whose validity and legally binding character Guyana is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold unequivocally.” – President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

(Department of Public Information) His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, today, condemned a decree issued by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claiming sovereignty over Guyana’s territory as a “legal nullity” which will not be recognised by any state in the world.

The Venezuelan President on January 7 issued a decree claiming sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights in the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River.

In his address to the nation, President Ali said, “Guyana rejects entirely the decree issued by President Maduro.” 

Guyana also maintains that the 1899 Arbitral Award is valid and legally binding.

“I remind that sovereignty over this coast, and the land territory to which it is attached, were awarded to Guyana (then British Guiana) in the 1899 Arbitral Award, whose validity and legally binding character Guyana is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold unequivocally,” President Ali said.

The President said by decreeing that the seas adjacent to Guyana’s territory belong to Venezuela, Mr. Maduro has violated at least two fundamental principles of international law.

Read more at: Department of Public Information

Source: CARICOM TODAY