Colombia to Continue Legal Fight Over Territorial Dispute with Nicaragua: FM

Edited by Juan Leandro
2013-11-20 14:17:27

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Bogotá, November 20, (RHC), – One year after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled to grant Nicaragua jurisdiction over approximately 75,000 square km of Caribbean waters formerly belonging to Colombia, Foreign Minister of Colombia, Maria Angela Holguin told reporters that her country continues to legally fight the decision.

"We are applying all means of diplomacy to avoid a confrontation, which is the last thing that the country needs," she said, adding that her government is still seeking ways to appeal at the ICJ, based in The Hague, to avoid ceding control of the area to Managua.

Holguin noted that President Juan Manuel Santos has made an effort to sidestep the ICJ ruling by withdrawing from the 1948 American Treaty on Pacific Settlement, also known as the Bogota Pact, which recognizes the jurisdiction of the ICJ.

The ICJ ruling is not applicable for Colombia as the country's constitution does not allow changes to national borders, except via treaties, she said.

Nicaragua recently called on Colombia again to abide by the ICJ ruling on their maritime boundaries, but Santos said the Colombian navy would continue to "exercise complete jurisdiction and control" over the area.



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