The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the importance of upholding the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity and the prohibition to any party, on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, as enshrined in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. Photo: News Source

Last week, the UN Security Council met and discussed Venezuela’s latest actions to claim Guyana’s Essequibo region. The meeting was held at the request of Guyana, and came after the Venezuelan President signed new legislation into law to make Guyana’s Essequibo a new Venezuelan state.

In a statement last evening, the UN Security Council underlined the importance of maintaining regional peace and security and ensuring that the Latin America and Caribbean region remains a Zone of Peace.

While commending the two countries over the Argyle Declaration which was agreed to when the Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana met in St. Vincent last December, the UN Security Council urged the parties to resolve their differences through peaceful means and to uphold their obligations under international law and the United Nations Charter. The Council also stressed the importance of regional actors playing a facilitating role in easing the tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the importance of upholding the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity and the prohibition to any party, on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, as enshrined in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.

The Commonwealth, the OAS and CARICOM have all come out in criticism of the recent actions of the Venezuelan Government.