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Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AMBASSADOR EUSTACE BRAITHWAITE OF GUYANA, SPEAKING BEFORE THE VOTE, URGED THE ASSEMBLY NOT TO ENDORSE THE "DISCRIMINATORY NATURE" OF THE TREATY WHICH, HE SAID, EXCLUDED HIS COUNTRY OF GROUNDS IRRELEVANT TO DENUCLEARIZATION.

THE OBSTACLE TO GUYANA'S SIGNING, HE SAID, WAS A BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY WITH VENEZUELA REVIVED 50 YEARS AFTER BOTH SIDES HAD ACCEPTED AN ARBITRAL SETTLEMENT.

ARTICLE 25 OF THE TREATY SIGNED AT TLATELOCO, MEXICO, FEBRUARY, EXCLUDED ANY STATE INVOLVED IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN A LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY AND A NON-CONTINENTAL POWER. THE BORDER DISPUTE WITH VENEZUELA BEGAN WHEN GUYANA WAS STILL A BRITISH COLONY.

WHEN THE ITEM WAS FIRST DEBATED BY THE ASSEMBLY'S MAIN POLITICAL COMMITTEE, THE LATIN AMERICAN CO-SPONSORS OF THE RESOLUTION SOUGHT A COMPROMISE BY INSERTING A PREAMBULAR PARAGRAPH IN THEIR DRAFT WHICH SAID THAT "ALL EXISTING STATES WITHIN THE ZONE DEFINED BY THE TREATY MAY BECOME PARTIES TO THE TREATY WITHOUT RESTRICTION."
NIGERIA'S CHIEF SIMEON ADEBO SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION TODAY SAID HE WAS SURE THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES WOULD STAND BY THIS PARAGRAPH AND ALLOW GUYANA TO SIGN.