Secretary-General Following Guyana, Venezuela Border Controversy with Concern

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: 

The Secretary-General is following with concern the recent escalation of tension between Guyana and Venezuela over the border controversy between the two countries.  He trusts that both parties will demonstrate good faith and avoid any action that would aggravate or extend the controversy.

In January 2018, after carefully analysing developments in the good offices process that had taken place over the preceding years, the Secretary-General, in the exercise of the power and responsibility conferred on him by the 1966 Geneva Agreement, chose the International Court of Justice as the means that was next to be used for the solution of the border controversy between the two countries.  The controversy is now before the International Court of Justice.  The Secretary-General does not express a view on matters that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings.