Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Natalie Gibbs
Islamic Republic of Iran
On the Situation in Guyana
The dispute in the Essequibo border region is a crisis that must be addressed immediately to ensure that proper sovereignty over the region can be taken and promote longterm stability. Disagreements about who should control Essequibo have existed since before the borders of Venezuela and Guyana were drawn. The area was part of Venezuela during Spanish colonial rule but was awarded to the British in 1899. Though both have since become their own nations, this issue has not been solved. The discovery of oil in the area in 2015 has intensified the need to decide ownership. Recent rulings by the ICJ and results of Venezuela’s referendum on the issue have also played a significant role in the conflict’s development. It’s clear that this issue needs to be solved fairly, with a focus on the history of the area, as soon as possible.
Iran is no stranger to border disputes. Disagreements with Iraq, Afghanistan, and the UAE over boundaries have shaped much of Iran’s foreign policy. Most notably, control over the Shatt al-Arab Waterway escalated into conflict between Iraq and Iran in 1974. The issue was temporarily resolved by the Algiers Agreement, until Iraq invaded Iran and began the Iran-Iraq War in 1980. Though relations between the two countries have since recovered, with valuable economic and cultural ties uniting them, Iran recognizes that the divisions caused by border disagreements were a major cause of the war. Guyana and Venezuela should seek to avoid such destructive conflicts, and if a just solution can be found without the interference of third party actors, agreeing to one is of the utmost importance.
While Guyana’s case, filed with the International Court of Justice in 2018 and adjudicated in December of 2023, was determined in Guyana’s favor, ordering Venezuela not to take any further action in the area, Venezuela disagreed about the court’s compulsory jursidiction over the case. However, the countries agreed just two weeks later at a peace summit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to not use force against each other over this issue in any circumstances. This declaration is an excellent step toward deescalating the issue and a clear sign that both nations are willing to work together and find a solution.
However, following this summit, tensions have begun to boil again as Venezuela signed into law a referendum to claim sovereignty over Essequibo. Additionally, in a joint statement from 55 nations, including Guyana, grave concern over the fairness of Venezuela’s elections was expressed. This undoubtedly is a statement of Guyana’s doubt about the Venezuelan referendum’s support from Venezuelan citizens. Though the two nations were supposed to meet three months following the initial summit, no meeting was scheduled, so further progress through that method of diplomacy has not been successful. A more rigid framework encouraging the nations to meet and work out the issue should be implemented by this committee so significant progress can be made.
The Islamic Republic of Iran proposes a solution that gives Venezuela control of the Essequibo region, as it was originally part of Venezuelan territory. Though the area is a substantial part of Guyana’s territory, accounting for more than two thirds of the country’s claimed land, Essequibo’s population is only around 15% of Guyana’s population. In return for this generous addition to Venezuela, Guyana could receive a percentage of Venezuela’s earnings from any proceedings involving the oil fields of the region. That way, economic growth would be fostered in both countries. However, both nations should be in full agreement on how to best resolve the issue. Iran understands that asking Guyana to cede its supposed claim over the area is demanding, but if the reimbursement is sufficient, the benefits of doing so more than outweigh the costs.
Lastly, Iran would like to emphasize that in finding a solution to this pressing issue, the committee must be careful not to overstep its role or detract from the national sovereignty of either nation. Instead, SPECPOL should facilitate a just resolution that benefits both countries, allowing them to grow more prosperous through Essequibo’s rich natural resources and their cooperation with each other.
Works Cited
https://www.britannica.com/place/Essequibo
https://mecouncil.org/publication_chapters/from-rivals-to-allies-irans-evolving-role-in-iraqs-geopolitics/
https://opil.ouplaw.com/page/502
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-books/the-three-islands-mapping-the-uae-iran-dispute
https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%201017/volume-1017-I-14903-English.pdf
https://www.csis.org/analysis/miscalculation-and-escalation-over-essequibo-new-insights-risks-venezuelas-compellence
https://data.worldbank.org/country/venezuela
https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203344
https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2024/01/falqs-guyana-venezuela-territorial-dispute/
https://caribbeannewsglobal.com/guyana-venezuela-joint-declaration-of-argyle-for-dialogue-and-peace-between/
https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-the-situation-in-venezuela/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/guyana-condemns-venezuela-for-signing-into-law-a-referendum-approving-annexation-of-disputed-region
