Andreina Itriago Acosta, Bloomberg News
CARACAS
EnergiesNet.com 10 31 2023
President Nicolas Maduro said that neighboring Guyana seeks to halt a referendum scheduled for Dec. 3 on the disputed Essequibo territory.
Maduro said that Guyana’s government filed an appeal before the International Court of Justice on Monday, requesting that it issue a resolution to suspend the referendum. “Venezuela has never recognized, nor will it recognize the ICJ for the resolution of this issue,” Maduro said late Monday on state TV.
Electoral authorities recently approved five questions for the December vote, including one on Guyana’s claim to territorial waters and another on whether to create the Guayana Esequiba state, granting inhabitants Venezuelan citizenship.
- Maduro said this and other recent steps by Guyana represent “insolence” that threatens peace in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Guyana has opted for “escalating war,” Maduro said
- Maduro warned Exxon Mobil and other companies seeking licenses for oil blocks in undefined territorial waters that they were acting illegally
- Venezuela will not recognize those licenses and will assert its sovereignty
bloomberg.com 30 10 2023
