As such the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has written the Government of Suriname, urging it to, in the interest of the maintenance of good neighbourly relations, desist from undertaking provocative actions that could undermine the efforts at improving relations between the two countries.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement yesterday, noted that the Guyana Government is particularly concerned that this action could lead to a deterioration in the relations between the two countries and threaten the peace and stability of the region.

"In the interest of the maintenance of good neighbourly relations the Government of Guyana would like to urge the Government of the Republic of Suriname to desist from undertaking provocative actions that could undermine the efforts at improving the relations between the two countries," the ministry said.

"The Government of Guyana continues to believe that the mechanism of the Joint Border Commissions is the forum for addressing matters relating to the border problems," it said.

It said, too, that the Government of Guyana "views this ill-advised action by the Republic of Suriname as having serious implications for the commitment which the Presidents of Guyana and Suriname made in January 2002 to enhance cooperation between their two countries".

The Surinamese Government recently issued diplomatic notes to foreign missions and international organisations accredited to Paramaribo, requesting that they henceforth utilise a map of Suriname that purports to annex the New River Triangle to Suriname.