Interview with Guyana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Rudolph Insanally, in the Venezuelan newspaper, El Nacional, Sunday, 12 August 2007
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Posted September 26th. 2007
[English translation from original Spanish text]
Samuel Rudolph Insanally Georgetown hopes that the High-level Bi-national Commission is revitalized.
By Valentina Oropeza
The Guyanese Foreign Minister affirmed that the dispute over the Essequibo is artificial because it is not juridically and historically supported. "There is no sense in claiming two-thirds of a country," he stated. "There is political disposition in Venezuela to settle the dispute."
From his years spent as Guyana's permanent representative before the United National and Chairman of the General Assembly, Samuel Rudolph Insanally, still has a blue print tie with several worlds surrounded by palm branches, allusive to the multilateral organization's logotype.
The Guyana Chancellor decided to use it Friday [10 August] to participate in the meetings of Ministers called for the III PetroCaribe Summit, which took place in Caracas last weekend and which was not attended by President Bharrat Jagdeo, in spite of the Government of Venezuela having sent its Vice-minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rodolfo Sanz, to Georgetown to invite him personally.
While he waited for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicolás Maduro, to conform if it would be possible to hold a side meeting (which had not occurred at the closing time of this edition), Insanally explained that although the designation of a new Good Officer and promotion of the High-Level Bilateral Commission is still pending, Guyana considers that the conditions are opportune to find a definitive solution to the 159,500 square kilometers claim over the Essequibo zone.
The
head of the Guyanese diplomacy ratified the signals made by Guyana's Ambassador
to Venezuela, Odeen Ishmael, in an interview made to El National in February
[http://www.guyana.org/spanish/interview_ishmael020407.html
].
The Government of Jagdeo is confident that President Hugo Chávez's socialist
vocation will guide him to give up the claim.
Georgetown claims that the dispute was a strategy which foreign powers might have applied against the Government of Cheddi Jagan, in 1962, in order to halt the establishment of the socialist leader in the region.
Valentina Oropeza (VO): How are the relations between Guyana and Venezuela, presently?
Samuel Rudolph Insanally (SRI): I would say cordial and very constructive. We have several agreements, in some we have notable progress and others are still pending, however, we have perceived not only a good atmosphere in the relations, but we also think that there is the political disposition of the Venezuela Government to settle the differences.
VO: Do you mean the Essequibo territory?
SRI: In the case of the Essequibo controversy we are looking for a solution. We consider that the problem was settled in 1899. It was only in the context of the Cold War and the fight against colonialism that Venezuela decided to pursue the quarrel. We do not believe that the claim has legal bases, but we have the political disposition to discuss it with Venezuela because we are neighbors, have always had good relations and are inspired by the same causes. We try to be members of the same South American unity. We are part of Caricom and Petrocaribe, we have a very close association. For this reason, we should find a definitive solution to the controversy and we believe that the way to attain it is to maximize our points of agreement and minimize the differences. On the bases of the discussions we have had, at the highest levels, we consider that the Venezuelan Government has the same disposition as ours.
VO: When you say "the highest levels" do you mean that both Presidents are discussing the matter?
SRI: Yes, I believe that there is a common political disposition of finding a peaceful and definitive solution of the problem.
VO: Has Guyana obtained the commitment of the Venezuelan Government that it (Venezuela) will give up the claim?
SRI: No, I can't go as far to say that, but there is an agreement to maintain a dialogue and find a definitive settlement of the controversy. President Jagdeo presented a document to explain our position. Chávez knows what we think.
VO: But, has Venezuela studied the possibility of giving up the territory?
SRI: I don't know. All we want to say is that we are under the impression that there is, now for the first time in many years in Venezuela a political disposition to settle the controversy.
VO: What has been Venezuela's response to that proposal?
SRI: I have the impression that Chávez has the disposition of making an effort to settle the issue, because Guyana is a brother country. Our attitude is part of the rapprochement because we share the same spirit and the same ideals. Chávez is a leader for whom we have great respect and affection. We have supported Venezuela in all of the forums.
Recently, in our discussions with the United States, Jagdeo was the only one who said clearly that we consider Venezuela a great friend and not because of the ideological question. We are economic partners and are cooperating. Though we are a small country, we have a very clear concept of solidarity. We are not ashamed of our association with Cuba or Venezuela and we believe that the Venezuelan leaders are aware of this.
VO: What would be the basis of an eventual agreement to end the dispute? What would Guyana offer and what would each of the Parties yield?
SRI: Let's see. We have to renew the dialogue. We hope that the mechanism of the HLBC will be reactivated with a meeting either in October or September.
VO: Are the bilateral discussions paralyzed at this moment?
SRI: They are not paralyzed, but we have to find a new moment which would permit the revitalization of the HLBC, the dialogue between the two chancellors and Heads of Government. Also, we have to take advantage of the opportunities for cooperation. I think that in this way, we can find a way out of the problem.
VO: But, if Venezuela refuses to give up the claim, and Guyana insists that the issue was settled in 1899, how can the two positions be conciliated?
SRI: I have perceived a disposition on the part of high Venezuela leaders to examine the problem in a close manner. I consider that both parties want to create a new partnership of countries in this hemisphere. We must remember that the Good Officer mechanism is in effect. Unfortunately, Oliver Jackman died. Therefore one of the matters we have to discuss is what we are going to do to carry on the discussions.
VO: Have there been meetings since the Good Officer died in January this year?
SRI: I had a short talk with Maduro in the Summit of the Organization of American States in Panama. He promised to visit Guyana to push these discussions.
VO: Has the Secretariat General of the UNO proposed any candidate to Venezuela and Guyana to replace Jackman?
SRI: Normally, the UNO leaves it up to the parties to elect a candidate. Up to now we don't have one. That is still to be discussed. No Names have been mentioned and Guyana does not have anyone in mind. We would like to hear our Venezuela Colleagues opinion before answering your question.
VO: What are the matters of priority to discuss with the Chancellor?
SRI: Our relationship, in general, what is its current status. According to the decisions of the Presidents, what else can we do to direct the dialogue in a better course on the Essequibo issue and make a sustained effort to settle definitely this source of differences. In these times, this division serves no purpose, it does not make sense to claim two thirds of a country without any legal support. If one examines the case and its history, it is evident that the claim was artificial, because it does not have historical or legal bases.
VO: What would Guyana cede in the case of an eventual agreement over the Essequibo Territory claim?
SRI: We are willing to consider any proposal which does not affect our integrity or our sovereignty. We think that there are many ways to cooperate in benefit to both parties. Let us hope that with intelligence and good will we can resolve the matter once and for all.
VO: Would you be willing to give up part of the territory?
SRI: I would prefer not to make comments on hypotheses. We are open to listen. This is normal between friends and neighbors. We are brothers and there is cooperation between the two countries.
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