Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent representations he has received on the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.
Answered by David Rutley
The United Kingdom is not a party to proceedings in the International Court of Justice between Venezuela and Guyana over the demarcation of their border. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration and we continue to support this decision. We urge the parties to resolve this issue peacefully.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if his Department will take steps to support Guyana in the border dispute with Venezuela.
Answered by David Rutley
The United Kingdom is not a party to proceedings in the International Court of Justice between Venezuela and Guyana over the demarcation of their border. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration and we continue to support this decision. We urge the parties to resolve this issue peacefully.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.
Answered by David Rutley
The United Kingdom is not a party to proceedings in the International Court of Justice between Venezuela and Guyana over the demarcation of their border. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration and we continue to support this decision. We urge the parties to resolve this issue peacefully.
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) diplomatic, (2) defence, and (3) other support, they will provide to the government of Guyana, following Venezuela's referendum proposing the illegal annexation of Guyana's Essequibo region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are concerned by the recent steps taken by Venezuela. We are clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration. The Foreign Secretary has reassured President Ali of this. We continue to work with regional partners and international bodies to de-escalate tensions.
Minister Rutley visited Guyana on 18 December. He met with President Ali, Foreign Secretary Todd, National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia, Defence Force Chief of Staff Brigadier Omar Khan and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett to show UK support for Guyana's territorial integrity.
Sep. 25 2023
Source Page: UN HRC54: UK Statement on Fact-Finding Mission on VenezuelaFound: UN HRC54: UK Statement on Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela
Mentions:
1: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) My Lords, the UK is fully engaged at senior levels following the recent steps taken by Venezuela with - Speech Link
2: Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD - Life peer) , but the President of Venezuela has said he does not recognise the court—which is standard practice, - Speech Link
3: Baroness Hooper (Con - Life peer) My Lords, given that the present Government of Venezuela have stated that they have always laid claim - Speech Link
4: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) In Venezuela, there is a lot of political rhetoric and an election next year. - Speech Link
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what representations he has made to his Venezuelan counterpart on that country's territorial dispute with Guyana.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK Government does not recognise the legitimacy of the Maduro regime. On 30 November, the Foreign Secretary discussed Venezuela's steps with respect to the region of Essequibo in Guyana with President Ali of Guyana. We consider the unilateral actions of Venezuela unjustified and have said they should cease. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration. We will continue to work with partners in the region and international bodies such as the UN Security Council, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States to seek a peaceful resolution.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what his policy is on the Esequiba region of Guyana, in the context of Venezuela's referendum in December 2023.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK is not a party to proceedings in the International Court of Justice between Venezuela and Guyana over the demarcation of their border. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration and we continue to support this decision. We urge the parties to resolve this issue peacefully.
Asked by: Andrew Lewer (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Venezuelan counterpart on the release of (a) Guillermo Zarraga, (b) Emirlendris Benítez, (c) Gabriel Blanco, (d) Maria Auxiliadora Delgado, (e) Juan Carlos Marufo, (f) Dario Estrada and (g) Robert Franco.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK continues to call for the unconditional release of all those unjustly detained in Venezuela. We regularly raise the human rights situation in Venezuela at the UN Human Rights Council, and our Embassy in Caracas supports local non-governmental organisations working on human rights. We continue to encourage the implementation of the Venezuelan-led political agreement reached on 17 October in Barbados, including the release of political prisoners. The regime's practice of regularly targeting those engaged in human rights work stands in the way of democracy and a resolution to Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. Human rights violations must stop.
Mentions:
1: Christian Wakeford (Lab - Bury South) to report a breach of the rules by the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in relation to a visit to Venezuela - Speech Link
2: Rupa Huq (Lab - Ealing Central and Acton) In addition to Boris Johnson’s hedge fund lobbying in Venezuela there is his Daily Mail column, as well - Speech Link
3: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) In a letter to me, the Deputy Prime Minister said of Mr Johnson’s recent trip to Venezuela that he was - Speech Link