GUYANA-SURINAM DISPUTE OVER PATROLLING OF CORENTYNE RIVER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000700070020-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2012
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: October 1, 1974
• Content Type: CABLE

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700070020-8-
,7
EPRODUCTION BY OTHER THA
SSUING OFFICE IS PROHIBIT&
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ACI ION UNIT
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BY
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T 459009 EI?358 PAGE 01
TOR10117572 OCT 74
NC 56989
R 302129Z SEP 74
FM AMEmBASsY GEORGETOWN
TO UEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 380
INFO RUDKGPWAMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 138
RUEHCR/AMCONSUL PARAMARIBO 524
BT
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 1.758
E,O. 11652/ N/A
TAGS! PFOR, GY, NS
SUBJECT: GUYANA-SURINAM DISPUTE OVER PATROLLING OF CORENTYNE
RIVER
REF: (A) PARAMARIBO 0455 (B) GEORGETOWN 1270 (NOTAL)
1, RECENT DISPUTE BETWEEN GUYANA AND SURINAM OVER GUYANESE
PATROL BOAT ON CORENTYNE RIVER (REF A) HAS ATTRACTED LITTLE
ATTENTION IN GUYANA. LOCAL PRESS REPORTED GUYANA CONSUL GENERAL
W,O, KENDALL'S PRESS CONFERENCE AND STORY OF NETHERLANDS CONSUL
GENERAL PERCY WIJNGAARDE'S TRIP TO SURINAM. ONLY GOVT COMMENT
WAS STATEMENT BY UNIDENTIFIED FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN WHO
REPORTEDLY SAID COG HOPED MATTER COULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH CON-
SULTATIONS.
2. AT HEART OF PROBLEM IS GUYANA'S SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL BORDER WITH
SURINAM ALONG CORENTYNE RIVER, ENTIRE RIVER BELONGS TO SURINAM.
COG IS THEREFORE UHKBLE TO USE RIVER WITHOUT GoSPERMISSION TO
PATROL ITS OWN COASTLINE To STOP ILLEGAL MOVEMENT OF GOODS, ARMS,
OR PERSONS. REASON FOR COG'S RECENT STRONG STAND, INCLUDING SUS-
PENSION OF SUGAR SALES TO SURINAM, MAYBE CONCERN FOR SECURITY
FOLLOWING SHOOTING OF POLICEMAN DURING ATTACK ON CORENTYNE
HIGHWAY TOLLGATE IN JULY (REF B). UNLESS COG AND GOS CAN REACH
SOLUTION, PATROLLING OF CORENTYNE RIVER IS LIKELY TO BE CONTINUAL
IRRITANT IN GOG-GOS RELATIONS AND NAGGING REMINDER OF UNRESOLVED
NEW RIVER TRIANGLE BORDER DISPUTE, HOWEVER IT SHOULD NOT RPT NOT BE
VIEWED AS REVERSAL OF COG DESIRE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH
SURINAM,
3, WIJNGAARDE (PLEASE PROTECT) TOLD ME ON RETUR FROM SURINAM HE
1\ CONSIDERED BOUNDARY DEMARCATION ',UNREALISTIC" AND SAID HE SYMPATHIZED
WITH COG'S CONCERN OVER. SMUGGLING, BOTH OF ARMS INTO GUYANA AND
OF FLOUR ANTHER GOODS INTO SURINAM KREBS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700070020-8