Guyana has urged Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming International Court of Justice ruling on their border controversy, in keeping with obligations under the UN Charter.

President Dr Irfaan Ali made the appeal while addressing the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly under the theme "A multilateralism equal to the demands of a changing age."

"Now that we have both participated in the hearings which were completed in May 2026, we urge Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming ruling in accordance with their obligation under the UN Charter, as Guyana will do," he said.

Venezuela has laid claim to the Essequibo region, an area of 159,500 square kilometres making up about two-thirds of Guyana's total landmass, which was awarded to then-British Guiana under the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award.

Ali said Guyana has consistently pursued a peaceful settlement of the controversy, describing the 1899 Award as the full, perfect and final settlement of the border, despite long and repeated provocations and aggression from Venezuela.

The matter was referred to the ICJ by the UN Secretary General under the Geneva Agreement, after decades of bilateral efforts including a mixed commission and the Secretary General's Good Offices, and the Court twice affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.

"In full respect for international law, Guyana participated and encouraged Venezuela to participate in the proceedings of the ICJ," Ali said.

He added that Guyana looks forward to a new era of neighbourly relations for the benefit of both peoples and the stability and prosperity of the region.