Ruptly
"Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez defended the country's claim over the disputed Essequibo region during hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Monday, accusing the UK of obstructing access to evidence. "Venezuela has submitted more than 3,000 pages of evidence, despite the fact that the UK prevented us from accessing sources of evidence […] despite the fact that the UK made evidence available only to the other party, to Guyana, while in our case access was denied," Rodriguez said during a press conference. Rodriguez also claimed that the outcome of this hearing is attempting to validate what Caracas describes as a '127-year-old fraud.' "Venezuela will not recognise it, because we ourselves would then be engaging in an act contrary to international law. And at the end of the road, only one option remains. That option is direct negotiation," she emphasised. The Venezuelan leader also stressed the historical and regional ties between the two countries, saying the future of Venezuela and Guyana is interconnected. "That option is for the parties to sit down and resolve this territorial dispute. And I say this for the good of the future of Guyana and Venezuela," she emphasised. On President Donald Trump's remarks that he is 'considering' making Venezuela the 51st US state, Rodriguez rejected any suggestion that Venezuela's sovereignty could be altered and reaffirmed the country's commitment to independence. "That is not contemplated. It would never be contemplated, because if there is one thing Venezuelan men and women possess, it is a love for our independence process," she said. "Venezuela is indeed the country with the largest oil reserves on the planet, and also among the largest reserves of gas. The path forward is cooperation and understanding among nations," she concluded. The International Court of Justice held hearings between May 4 and 11 on the merits of the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which established the border between Guyana and Venezuela. The Essequibo territory covers roughly 160,000 square kilometers - more than two-thirds of Guyana's landmass - and is rich in gold, diamonds, timber and offshore oil and gas deposits."
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