In the backdrop of a blistering border row last year, Guyana and Suriname have agreed to intensify cooperation and President Bharrat Jagdeo is to pay a state visit to the neighbouring country before year end.

A Joint Communique issued yesteday at the end of the visit to Suriname by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel R. Insanally indicated that the special attention was paid to the revitalisation of the Cooperation Council with emphasis on its objectives, structure and work schedule.

According to the Communique, the next meeting of the Cooperation Council will be held in Suriname no later than mid-November this year. It is expected that the Council will focus on several areas such as education, sports and culture, trade, combating drugs, tourism, health, transport, the environment and fisheries which will later be incorporated into a Plan of Action.

Insanally and his Surinamese counterpart, Marie E. Levens, agreed to enhance cooperation in air and sea transport as well as in the area of fisheries. Guyana has made several proposals in fisheries which Suriname will consider. A press release accompanying the communique said that at Insanally's request, Levens had agreed to try to address the problems affecting Guyanese fisheremen. They have in the past complained about unlawful interceptions, seizures of boats and harassment by Surinamese authorities.

The two countries will further collaborate with CARICOM on issues such as eco-tourism and information and communication technology to add to the expansion and sustainable growth of human and technical resources.

Threats to peace, stability and security in the region, including HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and drug-related crime were considered by the two Foreign Ministers who agreed that concerted efforts must be taken to minimize the vulnerability of the peoples in the region to these challenges.

It was decided that the two countries will reinvigorate the joint meeting of the National Border Commissions in keeping with the discussions of the two countries' Presidents in Brasilia last September.

The next meeting of the Joint Border Commission is expected to be convened no later than December 2001 while the composition of the respective delegations will be communicated through diplomatic channels no later than August 2001.

A bitter border row erupted between the two countries last year June when Surinamese gunboats evicted a rig drilling in Guyana's waters for oil. Despite several rounds of bilateral talks and dialogue facilitated by CARICOM, no agreement was achieved and the rig contracted by the Canadian company, CGX left without drilling in its preferred zone. Since then, relations between the two neighbours have virtually frozen with both sides at different points waiting for domestic political quiet and calm. There was no reference to the maritime dispute in the joint communique.

During his visit to the neighbouring country Insanally paid courtesy calls on the Surinamese President Ronald Runaldo Venetian and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jaggernauth Lachmon.

In his courtesy call on the Surinamese President, Insanally reiterated on behalf of President Jagdeo the political will of Guyana to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The communique also revealed that President Jagdeo will pay a state visit to Suriname before the end of the year.

The visit by Insanally took place from June 27 to 29.