Brazilian president expresses 'growing concern' over Venezuela-Guyana dispute

'We are going to treat it very carefully because what we don't want here in South America is war,' says Brazilian leader

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed "growing concern" about the Venezuela-Guyana dispute during Thursday's inauguration of the Mercosur summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Lula, alongside leaders and members of Mercosur, the South American regional alliance, emphasized that the rest of the region must not ignore the renewed conflict over the Essequibo territory between Venezuela and Guyana.

"We are going to treat it very carefully because what we don't want here in South America is war," said Lula.

The Brazilian president offered his country, which shares a border with Venezuela and Guyana, to conduct "as many meetings as necessary" to address the escalating crisis. "We don't need war; we don't need conflict. We need to build peace," he said.

Mercosur, formally comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Bolivia, suspended Venezuela indefinitely from the bloc in 2017 due to alleged breaches of democratic commitments.

"Mercosur cannot remain oblivious to this situation," said Lula. "We do not want this issue to contaminate the resumption of the regional integration process or constitute a threat to peace and stability."

Lula also emphasized the need for international blocs such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to intervene.

The conflict between Venezuela and Guyana reached a new point after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the annexation of the oil-rich Essequibo territory.

Although both bordering countries have claimed dominion over the territory, the Venezuelan government took a final step by announcing the creation of a State in Guyana to control the region following a referendum in which Venezuelans voted in favor of the newly created State.

Maduro ordered the energy state companies to create divisions in Essequibo capable of granting licenses for oil and gas extraction.

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