President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, presented on Tuesday to the National Assembly an organic law on creation of the State of Guayana Esequiba after a referendum approved the annexation of this territory belonging to Guyana in elections that the authorities now consider binding.

Maduro authorized the creation of divisions of the Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and the state-owned Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana (CVG) for Essequibo, which he ordered to issue oil, gas and mineral exploration and development licenses, according to a government statement.

Due to this, hiring companies will be prohibited who operate or cooperate in concessions granted “unilaterally” by Guyana in maritime areas that Caracas considers disputed.

Likewise, the President ordered the publication and distribution of a “new map of Venezuela” with Essequibo within the Venezuelan state, a disputed territory between both countries rich in minerals and natural resources.

“The world must know, the Republic of Guyana must know, that regarding the historical rights to Guayana, Esequiba Venezuela has one voice: “Essequibo belongs to us, it is beyond differences” Maduro stated this during his speech, in which he also announced the creation of a Integrated Defense Zone.

Before the adoption of the above-mentioned Organic Law, the President of Venezuela General Alexis Rodriguez Cabello appointed as the sole authority of Essequibo, whose political and administrative headquarters will be in Tumeremo, in the east of the country, near the border with Guyana.

Vice President of the country Delcy Rodrigues, for her part, will be the coordinator of the Essequibo High Defense Commission.. This will activate the social plan to conduct a census in Essequibo and provide its population with identity cards.

Finally, Venezuelan authorities will approve a law defining “environmental protection zones” and create new national parks on the territory.

Venezuela announced on Sunday it had approved a referendum in which They claim two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. despite the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered Caracas to avoid any attempts to change the “status quo” of the region.

Political tension between both countries has increased in recent monthsamong other things, after the International Court of Justice declared itself competent in this case, contrary to the criteria of Venezuela.

The territorial conflict arose in the 19th century. when an 1899 ruling, defended by Georgetown, stipulated that Venezuela renounce Essequibo, although it later renounced this. For its part, Caracas relies on the 1966 Geneva Agreement signed between the United Kingdom (former colonial power Guyana) and Venezuela, in which they recognized Essequibo as disputed territory.

(Europe Press)