UN General Assembly
1982

line. It did not even take the trouble to give any kind of justification, reason or explanation, however spurious or unprecedented, of what was from every point of view an unbridled plundering. The history of this humiliating mutilation cannot be forgotten by Venezuelans. Our entire tradition and all our instincts move us to desire to maintain and develop with the Guyanese people the closest relations of friendship, co-operation and solidarity. In truth, like ourselves, they were the victims of British impe¬rialism and, like ourselves, they are a people which is trying to achieve development. For this very reason v": have insisted tirelessly on holding real and sincere negotiations, inspired by justice and equity, which will lead us to overcome this problem that we have inherited, in a satisfactory and practical way. The obligation for Venezuela and Guyana to negotiate their differences is not only a moral imper¬ative, not only a duty under international law, but, in this specific case, a commitment freely entered into in the Agreement signed at Geneva on 17 February 1966/ In fact, although the