Venezuela's government on Friday rejected a ruling from the United Nations' top court ordering the South American country to refrain from holding elections for officials who supposedly would oversee a resource-rich region in neighbouring Guyana that both nations claim as their own.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro underscored its historical position to not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and asserted that international law does not allow the body to interfere or attempt to prohibit an election.
The government statement came a day after the court, based in the Hague, issued a ruling at the request of Guyana, which accused Venezuela violating an earlier order by planning to hold elections on May 25 for a governor and other officials to administer the Essequibo region.
The Venezuelan government says, no international pressure, judicial blackmail or foreign tribunal will make them back down from this conviction.
The area under dispute represents two-thirds of Guyana and is rich in gold, diamonds, timber and other natural resources.
It is also located close to massive offshore oil deposits, which, with current production averaging some 650,000 barrels per day.
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