After the culmination of the meeting between the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Alí, a joint Argyle statement “For Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela” was made, a document of eleven points in which both countries commit to maintaining dialogue and peace to resolve the territorial dispute of Guayana Esequiba.
The debates were facilitated by the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and President pro-tempore of CELAC, Ralph Gonsales, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica and president of CARICOM, Rossevelt Skerrit, together with the Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, sent by the president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva.
Several representatives of the United Nations Organization, sent by the organization's secretary general, António Guterres, acted as observers.
The document expresses eleven points that commit the parties to maintaining the climate of peace in the region. The points of the agreement are highlighted below:
1. They 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 controversy existing between both States.
2. They 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. Committed to the search for good neighborliness, peaceful coexistence and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. Took 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. They took note of Venezuela's assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of the International Court of Justice and its jurisdiction in the border dispute.
5. They agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending issues of mutual importance to the two countries.
6. Agree 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 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 to contain it, reverse it and prevent it from happening again.
7. They 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 Inacio 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 Prime Minister Skerrit's role will continue as a member of the CARICOM Bureau.
9. Both States agreed to meet again in Brazil, in 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. We express our 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. We express our gratitude to the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for their kind facilitation and hospitality of this meeting.
