Suriname supports Guyana in the conflict with Venezuela

The government of Suriname has assured its support Guyana in its territorial dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo, despite its own border problems, and expressed hope that the conflict would not escalate to acts of violence.

This is how Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin spoke about the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over the aforementioned territory of almost 160,000 square kilometers, insisting that the Tigris region belongs to Suriname, despite Guyanese’s request.

Ramdin warned that the “threat to regional security” will not be tolerated nor will the conflict between Guyana and Venezuela get out of control and become a “geopolitical issue”, local media reported this Wednesday.

“Our position is that we support territorial integrity Guyana in relation to the Essequibo. “Suriname stands for peace in the area and does not want an armed conflict to occur,” he assured.

“In regional situations like this we have to help each other, that’s an important principle, especially now when you see that another country (Venezuela) wants to annex part of Guyana,” added Ramdin.

The presidents of Guyana and Venezuela, Irfaan Ali and Nicolás Maduro, will meet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday to discuss escalating tensions caused by a unilateral referendum held by Caracas on Dec. 3 to approve the annexation of Essequibo.

Regarding the dispute between his country and Guyana, the head of Surinamese diplomacy indicated that the case of the Tigris, an area of ​​jungle bordered by several rivers and located on the border between the two countries, cannot be brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as was done with Essequibom.

“I have already said and I repeat: Tigri is ours. I recognize that the other side has different views. That is why the proceedings have been initiated find a solution“, he asserted.

Both countries created special commissions in 2013 that should soon present a final report, whose recommendations will lead to a final solution to the southwest border problem.