Georgetown, October 13 (PL-RHC)-- A commission of the United Nations has begun an investigation on the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, after the parties agreed last month to use the world body as mediator.

The chief of staff of the UN Secretary General, Susana Malcorra, will head the team, comprised of five officials.

According to Guyanese Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge, the delegation will hold talks with the highest authorities of Georgetown on the dispute over the Essequibo, a 160,000 square kilometer border area.

The minister did not say how long the staff will stay here, but reported on their visit to Venezuela with a similar agenda. The visit of the international commission is part of the plan set by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to find a negotiated solution to the dispute.