Guyana Venezuela seek aid to settle border dispute

Guyana, Venezuela seek Annan's aid to speed up settlement of border dispute

Guyana and Venezuela are seeking to reinvigorate discussions under the aegis of Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a bid to resolve the nearly two-century-old border dispute between the two neighbours on the northern shoulder of South America, a United Nations spokesman said today.

Mr. Annan met with Foreign Ministers Samuel Insanally of Guyana and Roy Chaderton-Matos of Venezuela at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday at their request, according to spokesman Fred Eckhard. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Oliver Jackman, was also present.

"In reviewing the situation, the Foreign Ministers noted that relations between the two countries were constructive and at a point that would ensure future cooperation," Mr. Eckhard told a news briefing. "They said that they wished to reinvigorate the discussions taking place under the aegis of the Secretary-General in order to resolve the controversy."

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