No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveNicaragua demands navigation rights on Costa Rican river

Nicaragua demands navigation rights on Costa Rican river

The Nicaraguan government has petitioned the International Court of Justice in The Hague to grant the country navigation rights on Río Colorado, located entirely within Costa Rican territory.

The request was presented by Nicaragua as part of its defense in a trial at the world court over an ongoing conflict with Costa Rica over Isla Calero, a small territory bordering the two countries.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega claims the right to navigate the river by arguing that 90 percent of the river’s water comes from sources in Nicaragua, the daily La Nación reported.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo told the daily that the petition is an example “of the expansionist intentions of the government of Daniel Ortega, … part of a hostile and aggressive policy against its southern neighbor.”

“The Río Colorado is located 100 percent within Costa Rican territory. The river is completely inside the border, [and] we must not allow navigation of Nicaraguan officials or citizens, unless they have a visa,” Castillo said.

The court will study Nicaragua’s request and issue one of three possible rulings: The court could fully reject it, admit it and start a new case, or include the complaint as part of the Isla Calero case, which “could delay by several years a resolution of the lawsuit filed by Costa Rica in December 2010,” Castillo said.

The Colorado River crosses an important protected area in the Wildlife Refuge of Barra del Colorado. It is used for transportation and sportfishing, and could become an important tourist destination.

Trending Now

Honduras Community Demands Justice in Environmental Murder Case

Three defendants accused of murdering an environmental activist in Honduras 11 months ago appeared before a court this Thursday for a preliminary hearing, the...

Costa Rica President Confronts Calls to Strip Immunity

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves denounced today an “attempted judicial coup” as he appeared before a congressional committee that must recommend to the full...

Costa Rica’s Sibö Chocolate Wins Bronze at Int’l Awards

Chocolate Sibö once again stood out at the International Chocolate Awards, the largest fine chocolate competition based in New York. The Costa Rican brand...

Panama Union Files Lawsuits Against Chiquita Over Mass Layoffs

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, will meet in Brazil with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in search of an agreement for the company to...

President Chaves Downplays Costa Rica’s Security Crisis Amid Record Homicides

President Rodrigo Chaves brushed off concerns about Costa Rica's surging violence during his Wednesday press conference, insisting the security situation "is not as serious"...

Mexico Battles Wildfire Damage with Drone-Based Reforestation

Authorities in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, are using drones to scatter seeds from the air in an effort to reforest hundreds...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica