UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, said his spokesman on Wednesday.
"The secretary-general strongly supports the use of solely peaceful means to settle international disputes. He further recalls that, pursuant to the (UN) Charter and to the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), decisions of the court are binding and he trusts that both states will duly comply with the order of the court," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.
Dujarric said the secretary-general pointed out the ICJ order issued on Friday, which indicated provisional measures in the case of Guyana against Venezuela in an 1899 arbitration award over the territory known as Essequibo.
"The secretary-general notes the court's unanimous decision to order Venezuela to refrain from taking any action that would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute," the spokesman said. "The secretary-general also notes the court's order to both parties to refrain from any action, which might aggravate or extend the dispute or make it more difficult to resolve."
Dujarric said that in accordance with the court's statute, Guterres sent notice of the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ to the Security Council.
The territorial dispute flared up after Venezuela's referendum on Sunday to claim the territory, which is administered and controlled by Guyana. ■
