Venezuela, Guyana to restore ambassadors amid border dispute
Sep 27, 11:15 PM EDT
Venezuela, Guyana to restore ambassadors amid border dispute
By RICARDO ZUNIGA
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- After a tense meeting, the presidents of Venezuela and Guyana agreed Sunday to restore ambassadors and hold talks to resolve a long-running border dispute that flared up recently following the discovery of oil in disputed waters.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Guyanese President David Granger met for the first time in New York in talks mediated by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the world body's general assembly
The current border between the South American countries was determined by international arbitration in 1899, but Venezuela has disputed that line for more than a half century and claims about 40 percent of Guyana's territory that is rich in gold, bauxite, diamonds and other natural resources. It extended its maritime claims recently after a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp. announced it made a significant oil discovery off Guyana's coast.
The countries have been without ambassadors since earlier this year and tensions increased over the past week.
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