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South America: Neighbours aim to settle oil squabble

THE presidents of Venezuela and Guyana agreed on Sunday to resume diplomatic relations as a prelude to talks over oil exploration in disputed waters.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Guyanese President David Granger met for the first time in New York in talks mediated by UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon.

“I’m going to start communicating with President Granger. We want brotherly relations with Guyana,” said Mr Maduro. “Despite many differences we may have, our people are destined for brotherhood.”

Tensions were raised in May when Mr Granger’s government, newly elected amid allegations of polling fraud, granted exploration rights to transnational oil giant Exxon Mobil in waters off the western Essequibo region.

Venezuela has laid claim to Essequibo since before Guyana’s independence from Britain in 1966.

Mr Ban said the UN would send a delegation to Venezuela in the coming days to assess the nation’s claim to the region.

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