Guyana: UN Sec Gen António Guterres meets President Irfaan Ali

António Guterres, the current Secretary General of the United Nations had a meeting with the President of Guyana- Dr Irfaan Ali. The meeting took place in New York City on the 13th of February.

For weeks, there have been reports that Dr. Ali was expected to chair a high-level open debate at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with the theme of “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security”.

No other details were released until the meeting took place on the 13th of February, 2024. Reports claim that in the meeting between the two, they exchanged views on Guyana’s presidency of the Security Council.

In an opinion piece, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud stated, “the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, for instance“, have upended peace, causing instability with far-reaching consequences for both the human beings who are the casualties, and the international system which is now experiencing severe strain.”

“All our citizens should be proud that Guyana will play its part in building alliances and engaging meaningfully in finding long lasting and sustainable solutions to conflicts, in line with international law and the UN Charter.”

Guyana has also been more prevalent in international news due to accusations from Venezuela of granting illegal oil contracts with neither one of the two nations backing down.

Guyana has taken the issue to the World Court in the Netherlands for a final ruling, Venezuela on the other hand prefers direct negotiations as the way to move forward in an attempt to minimize “external inputs”

Venezuela has also accused Guyana of collaborating with the US military to exploit oil and gas resources in waters that Venezuela claims as their own. This, too, was a point of interest and contention for the conversation held between the Sec Gen and Dr. Ali, with mentions of the situation in Haiti as well.