Opposition “Extolling War” in Guyana Sea Limit Dispute, Says Venezuelan OAS Ambassador

Caracas, October 3^rd 2011 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Roy Chaderton, responded to opposition criticisms that the national government had remained “silent” over the recent Venezuela-Guyana sea limit dispute this Sunday.

During an interview on the programme Kiosko Veraz, Chaderton stated that various leaders of the Venezuelan opposition had been “publically extolling, almost explicitily, a formula for war”. 

The government official also accused the opposition of seeking to provoke an international conflict in order to oust the elected Chávez administration; echoing similar concerns expressed by the government during the unfolding of the crisis in Libya.

“They dream about an invasion of Venezuela and about missiles launched at our country, so that they might win, with the aid of international support, what they haven’t been able to win through elections,” said the diplomat.

Chaderton made the statements following a string of criticisms published by the Venezuelan rightwing in the private media over the past 2 weeks – including official statements by the opposition coalition party, MUD (Roundtable of Democratic Unity).

In one of the communications, MUD states that the national government has proved itself to be “incapable of defending national interests”, despite its “nationalist rhetoric” and condemned what it described as a “submissive” foreign policy.

The initial dispute began early last month when the government of Guyana presented an appeal to the United Nations, requesting to extend its maritime borders. Although the national government released a statement confirming it would “defend its interests” whilst seeking a peaceful and cohesive solution to the dispute, the Venezuelan opposition has consistently condemned the “soft-line” taken by the Chávez government, and demanded that a “protest” be mounted against the Republic of Guyana.

 “It was a blow for them (the opposition), because they weren’t expecting us to make such substantial progress on the issue so soon,” explained Chaderton, in reference to a meeting held between the Venezuelan and Guyanese foreign ministers last Friday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Although peaceful negotiations are currently underway between the two countries, it may take years to arrive at an official resolution, with the United Nations not set to review the Guyana petition until April next year.

In comments made to the press last week, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez confirmed the government would continue to handle the situation with “dignity and diplomatic, political care”.

“We will not succumb to provocations from sectors here (in Venezuela), sectors over there (Guyana), or to the imperialist sectors which are swarming around, trying to cause problems between us,” affirmed Chávez.