?but Guyana continues preparations for eventualities By Abena Rockcliffe While Guyana continues to mobilize all tools available to defend its territorial integrity, VenezuelanMinister of Foreign Affairs, Carl GreenidgeAmbassador to Guyana, Reina Margarita Arratia Díaz is seeking to calm the tension, showing a face that contradicts the reality of her country?s actions.Venezuela?s President Nicolas Maduro on May 27, 2015 issued a decree, extending Venezuela?s claim to Guyana?s territorial waters. A map which was issued, accompanying the decree, shows that the claim includes the area where the US giant oil company, ExxonMobil is currently drilling for oil.On Sunday evening,[url=http://www.wholesalejerseyssale.us@#$%&/]China NFL Jerseys[/url], Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge,[url=http://www.nfljerseyscheaponline.us@#$%&/]Wholesale Jerseys Online[/url], revealed that Venezuela is threatening to use force to deprive Guyana of a significant piece of its territory. Greenidge has however declared that the Government of Guyana intends to ?utilize all tools available to us to defend our national interest.?Last evening, the Minister said that a further look at the decree, written in Spanish,[url=http://www.nfljerseyscheaponline.us@#$%&/]Cheap Jerseys Online[/url], leads Guyana to believe that the decree is quite dangerous and very much illegal by the standards of international law.  He said that in light of such, Guyana continues to prepare for eventualities.In the meantime, Greenidge handed to the Venezuelan Ambassador a note verbale denouncing her country?s action.It is understood that the Venezuelan Ambassador sought to calm the already high tension professing peaceful intent and friendly credentials. However, Greenidge said that while the Ambassador is professing one thing, her county?s action is screaming otherwise.Setting aside his disclosure that the Ambassador sought to forge a sense of relief upon Guyana,Venezuela?s President Nicolas MaduroGreenidge declined to say much else about his encounters yesterday with the envoy.He said however that the Guyana government remains very disturbed by Venezuela?s behaviour and its intended impact on Guyana?s development.Greenidge said that in the light of the threatened attack on Guyana?s sovereignty he proposes to ?use all the means at the country?s disposal to protect itself and its people.?Greenidge, who met yesterday with the Guyana Defence Board and the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, declined to disclose the measures adopted at the meeting.He did disclose however the fact that Guyana has so far secured the support of many of its bilateral partners.The Minister said that a number of representatives of Guyana?s bilateral partners have been paying calls on him and on President David Granger.British High Commissioner to Guyana, James Gregory Quinn, was yesterday quoted in sections of the online media that Venezuela?s claim is baseless.He noted, ?There are no grounds in international law which would justify recent Venezuelan claims to what we consider to be Guyanese territorial waters.?A united frontGuyana, a nation that was left somewhat divided a few weeks after General and Regional elections were held is ready to set aside internal issues to forge a strong international front against, neighbouring Venezuela.Guyana?s main opposition party, the People?s Progressive Party/Civic made it clear yesterday that it is standing firm against any aggression from Venezuela and has condemned Venezuela?s actions.At the Party?s weekly press conference,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysshare.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Authentic[/url], yesterday at Freedom House, PPP/C General Secretary,[url=http://www.wholesalejerseyssale.us@#$%&/]China Jerseys[/url], Clement Rohee who once served as Guyana?s Foreign Minister said, ?We stand firmly as a political party in respect of defense of our territorial integrity and national sovereignty and we hold to the view that where this (oil) exploration is taking place falls within the territorial sea belonging to Guyana.?Even with the threat of force from a country which ranks 62 on a list of 126 countries of military strength around the world, and which maintains military ties with Russia (ranking second on that list) Greenidge, has from day one, been saying that Guyana will not just throw in the towel.Greenidge did not state if the United States, the country ranked number one with military strength, has pledged unwavering support to help Guyana if, ?push comes to shove.?Indeed, the US had pledged support to secure Guyana?s oil wealth but it cannot be taken for granted that the support will extend to this point.Chargé d? Affaires of the U.S Embassy, Bryan Hunt, in a recent interview with Kaieteur News,[url=http://www.nfljerseyschinaauthentic.us]Cheap NFL Jerseys China[/url], had pledged to offer technical and other support to Guyana with regard to exploiting the nation?s expected oil resources. He had also said that the US will be working with Guyana to ensure that the oil wealth does not end up in private pockets.Prior to ExxonMobil?s announcement last month that it had found a ?significant? oil deposit, Venezuela had twice written to the Guyanese subsidiary of that company warning it against continuing the search for oil because that maritime area and the entire Essequibo Region ? the land area from Venezuela east to the Essequibo River ? were part of its territory. Guyana has issued a ?strong? message to the Government of Venezuela in this regard.Venezuela has, for decades, threatened Guyana?s sovereignty.But Guyana has over the years maintained that an 1899 ruling settled the borders between the two neighbours. But Venezuela has insisted that the mineral and forest rich Essequibo Region is its territory, a claim that still is in the hands of the United Nations.The 15-nation Caribbean Community, Commonwealth and the Organization of American States (OAS), have for several decades sided with Guyana, the only English-speaking nation in South America.These organizations supported Guyana?s position that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award has fully and finally settled the boundary with Venezuela.The Government of Guyana has since informed CARICOM, UNASUR, the OAS, the Commonwealth as well as the United Nations Secretary General about Venezuela?s most recent claim.