In the wake of the recent visit by a high-level delegation from neighbouring Brazil last Friday, led by Brazilian Defence Minister Raul Jungmann Pinto, President David Granger on Monday convened a special meeting with the high command of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to discuss ongoing defence concerns.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was also present at the meeting, which was held at State House, explained that the purpose of this follow-up meeting was to review the discussions that emanated from the deliberations with the Brazilian delegation and to prepare the GDF to chart the way forward in terms of defence cooperation.
Visiting along with the Brazilian Defence Minister were Justice Minister Torquato Lorena Jardim and Minister Head of Institutional Security/Presidency of the Republic, General Sérgio Etchegoyen.
During the meeting with Guyana’s Head of State, the Defence Minister called for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.
Minister Jungmann outlined the need to promote peaceful relations among nations on the South American continent.
“Like in anywhere else in the world, there is no place for force or opposition… but we have to enforce international rights of sovereignty…(and) we will need to make an effort to get it done,” he stated, adding that it was imperative that Brazil and Guyana work together for justice to be had peacefully.
According to the Defence Minister, “Brazil believes in the establishment of borders within all ways; the principle of diplomacy; respect for sovereignty; independence; and our endurance between us and our neighbours.”
The Brazilian Defence Minister asserted that his country did not believe in the use of force. In fact, he pointed out that for a century and a half, Brazil has not had any conflict with its neighbours, nor had need to resort to the use of force in determining issues between itself and its neighbours in South America to preserve its existence on the continent.
During the visit, President Granger conferred the Brazilian Minister with Guyana’s second highest award, the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).
Prior to Friday’s investiture ceremony, Minister Jungmann and his team met with several Government Ministers, during which the two countries committed to review the September 2012 Joint Communiqué, which followed the official visit to Guyana by Ambassador Celso Amorim, then Defence Minister of Brazil.
The review is intended to update the agreements in that document, and bring them in line with present-day realities, as well as to deepen defence cooperation.
