The resumption of talks regarding a controversial border issue between Guyana and Venezuela was suspended, even though the Foreign Affairs minister of both countries committed to meet as soon as possible, Efe reported.

The chargé d'affaires of the Venezuelan Embassy in Guyana, Fernando Rincón, ensured that the issue was suspended because of the busy agendas of Guyana and Venezuela Foreign Affairs ministers Rudy Insanally and Alí Rodríguez, respectively.

In March Insanally and the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs vice-minister for Latin America and the Caribbean Pável Rondón agreed to hold a meeting between Guyana facilitator Ralph Ram Karran and his Venezuelan counterpart Héctor Azócar, together with official delegate Oliver Jackman, a representative of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The UN believes efforts to find a solution to this controversy should not last more than two years.

Venezuela is claiming the mineral- and forest-rich region on the riverside of Esequibo river, comprising two thirds of Guyana 215,000 square kilometers.

Guyana defends an arbitral award of 1899 setting the border between Guyana and Venezuela. But in the last few decades, Venezuela has been blocking Guyana efforts to find oil in the region.

The bilateral agenda also includes meetings for cultural cooperation and enhancement of transportation between the two countries.