Toronto (Canada), December 9 (EFE).- Canada indicated on Saturday that it is in “constant” communication with the Guyanese government regarding the annexation process of the Essequibo region initiated by Venezuela and reiterated its support for a peaceful solution to the conflict. . .

In his first public reaction, a spokesperson for the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to questions from EFE that “Canada is closely monitoring” the situation in the region after the holding of a referendum last Sunday in Venezuela as a preliminary step to the annexation of the country. the disputed Guyanese region of Essequibo.

When asked if the Canadian government was in contact with the governments of Venezuela and Guyana, the Canadian spokesperson noted that “Canada is in constant communication with the Guyanese government at various levels, including the first Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Canadian diplomats. .

“We reiterate our support for a peaceful and diplomatic solution at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as a peaceful resolution of the protracted territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela,” concluded the spokesperson for the Canadian Ministry of Justice. Foreign Affairs.

Following the holding of a referendum in Venezuela on the annexation of Essequibo, a 160,000 square kilometer region under the control of Guyana and rich in natural resources, the rise in tensions between the two countries has caused serious concern in the international level.

This Saturday, the presidents of Brazil, Lula Inácio da Silva, and Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, had a telephone conversation during which the Brazilian president expressed “the growing concern of the countries of South America” ​​in the face of the conflict territorial.

Also this Saturday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his first public statements on the crisis, called for a “de-escalation of the conflict” and suggested to South American countries the creation of a mediation team to resolve the dispute. EFE

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