Venezuela rejects UN plan to settle border fight with Guyana

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela has rejected a United Nations proposal to send its longstanding border dispute with neighbouring Guyana to an international court.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said Wednesday that his country will push for a diplomatic settlement spelled out in a 1966 agreement signed in Geneva.

His comment comes a day after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he is sending the case to the International Court of Justice.

U.N. officials cite a provision of the Geneva accord that gives the secretary-general authority to find a solution if the two countries can’t.

The territorial dispute between the two South American countries dates back to 1899. The swath of disputed land makes up 40 per cent of Guyana.