Nicolas Maduro’s main political opponent, popular right wing capitalist Maria Corina Machado, has issued a heartwarming and compelling statement calling for peace, diplomacy, and respect of international law with regards to the ongoing Guyana/Venezuela border controversy. She did not waver from the national Venezuelan sentiment that “the Essequibo belongs to Venezuela.” What she did do however was choose her words very carefully in condemning Maduro’s dangerous actions which could escalate into an armed conflict between two friendly, neighboring countries.
We have enough arguments to prove that Essequibo is from Venezuela and it is our obligation to defend it by the peaceful, legal, and diplomatic way. It is a fact that the ICJ declared its competence over this controversy in decision dated 18/12/2020 and also declared its admissibility in decision dated 06/04/2018. Both decisions are binding, they must be adhered to by the Venezuelan State and oblige it to participate in the process.
Maria Corina has said in essence that the ruling of the ICJ over the border dispute must be respected.
It is a well known fact that politicians sometimes say what they have say when they are out of power, but can do a full circle once they get voted into office. I’m not saying that this is the case with Maria Corina, but there are newspaper clippings from about a decade ago which prove that she suggested military action in recovering the Essequibo at some point in time. With that being said, people change, and we certainly hope that Maria Corina has changed for the better.
In embracing respect of international law, peace, and diplomacy with regards to the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute, Maria Corina Machado has won the hearts of millions of people from all over the world and will also garner stronger support from international powers whose aim is to help her wrest power from illegal dictator Nicolas Maduro and restore Venezuela to freedom and prosperity.
The Maduro Regime did send its “best lawyers” to the Hague only to put forward an argument that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction over the border dispute and that they (Venezuela) will not respect the ruling of the ICJ. With the Maduro Regime’s current trajectory, Venezuela is poised to lose the case at the ICJ.
Full Statement by Maria Corina Machaco
English
The claim of the Essequibo territory is a question of the state that is in the interest of all Venezuelans, aside from their political preference. As a deputy and a Venezuelan citizen, I have supported all actions that favor our just and historic territorial claim.
The ones who today represent the Venezuelan State before the International Court of Justice have the responsibility and obligation to defend the interests of the Republic with the legal arguments necessary to declare the nullity of the Paris Arbitral Court and reaffirm our legal and historical ownership over the Essequibo territory.
Today (6th of April, 2024) there are only TWO days left for the expiration of the deadline for submission of Venezuela’s counter-argument at the International Court of Justice. We have enough arguments to prove that Essequibo is from Venezuela and it is our obligation to defend it by the peaceful, legal, and diplomatic way.
It is a fact that the CIJ declared its competence over this controversy in decision dated 18/12/2020 and also declared its admissibility in decision dated 06/04/2018. Both decisions are binding, they must be adhered to by the Venezuelan State and oblige it to participate in the process.
Venezuela should never have reached the current situation. This is the consequence of the irresponsible management of this controversy by the governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro.
But once the CIJ affirmed its jurisdiction, they have to defend responsibly the rights of Venezuela on the Esquibo, the nullity of the Arbitral Laudo and achieve the recovery of the territory from which we were arbitrarily deprived.
Apart from our ideological and political differences, it is the duty of all Venezuelans to defend the territorial integrity of our Republic.
Spanish
La reclamación del territorio Esequibo es una cuestión de Estado que es del interés de todos los venezolanos, al margen de su preferencia política.
Como diputada y como ciudadana venezolana he respaldado todas las acciones que favorecen nuestra justa e histórica reclamación territorial.
Quienes hoy representan al Estado venezolano ante la Corte Internacional de Justicia, tienen la responsabilidad y la obligación de defender los intereses de la República con los argumentos jurídicos necesarios para que sea declarada la nulidad del Laudo Arbitral de París y se reafirme nuestra titularidad jurídica e histórica sobre el territorio Esequibo.
Hoy quedan solo DOS días para que se venza el plazo de presentación de la contra memoria de Venezuela ante la Corte Internacional de Justicia.
Tenemos los argumentos suficientes para demostrar que el Esequibo es de Venezuela y es nuestra obligación defenderlo por la vía pacífica, jurídica y diplomática.
Es un hecho que la CIJ declaró su competencia sobre esta controversia en decisión de fecha 18/12/2020 y que declaró también su admisibilidad en decisión de fecha 06/04/2023. Ambas decisiones son vinculantes, deben ser acatadas por el Estado venezolano y lo obligan a participar en el proceso.
Venezuela nunca ha debido llegar a la situación actual. Esto es consecuencia de la irresponsable gestión de esta controversia por los gobiernos de Hugo Chávez y Nicolás Maduro.
Pero una vez que la CIJ afirmó su jurisdicción, se tienen que defender responsablemente los derechos de Venezuela sobre el Esequibo, la nulidad del Laudo arbitral y lograr la recuperación del territorio del cual fuimos despojados arbitrariamente.
Al margen de nuestras diferencias ideológicas y políticas, es deber de todos los venezolanos defender la integridad territorial de nuestra República.
