Guyana and Venezuela restore ambassadors despite border row Sunday Sep 27,2015

 

Guyana and Venezuela agreed on Sunday Sep 27,2015 to restore their respective ambassadors despite a continuing border dispute.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his Guyanese counterpart, David Granger, met in New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.

Ban Ki-moon mediated at the meeting between David Granger (left) and Nicolas Maduro (right)  

 

Tensions between the two neighbours rose this year when Venezuela demanded that Guyana stop oil exploration in a disputed area.

The dispute goes back to an 1899 ruling, which Venezuela says is unfair.

The dispute centres on the mineral-rich region west of the Essequibo river, which accounts for about 40% of Guyana's territory.

An international tribunal ruled in 1899 that the area formed part of Guyana, which at the time was a British colony.

But Venezuela does not accept that ruling and argues that the area is still in dispute.

In May 2015, US oil giant Exxon Mobil said it had made "a significant oil discovery" in waters off the disputed area, after it was granted a licence by the Guyanese government.

Venezuela demanded that exploration be halted and accused Exxon of fomenting strife between the two South American neighbours.

In July 2015, Venezuela recalled its ambassador and earlier this month stalled its acceptance of Guyana's nominee for ambassador to Caracas.

On Sunday Sep 27,2015, Venezuela President Maduro said that Venezuela would restore its ambassador to Georgetown "immediately" and accept Guyana's nominee.