CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelans will vote on Dec. 3 in a referendum on "the rights" over a potentially oil-rich territory in dispute with its neighbor Guyana, authorities said on Friday.
Both countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over their borders.
Venezuela protested an oil tender announced by Guyana in September, arguing that the offshore areas are subject to dispute and the companies awarded the fields will not have the rights to explore them.
The approximately 160,000 square kilometers under dispute along the countries' borders is mostly impenetrable jungle, and known as the "Esequiba region."
Venezuela's claims extend over the territory was reactivated in recent years after the discovery of oil and gas near the maritime border.
Persons:
Deisy Buitrago, Isabel Woodford, Alistair Bell
Organizations:
International Court of Justice
Locations:
CARACAS, Guyana, Venezuela