No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeLatin AmericaColombiaColombia protests over boundaries of Nicaragua nature reserve

Colombia protests over boundaries of Nicaragua nature reserve

Colombia on Tuesday lodged a protest at Nicaraguan plans to create a nature reserve that Bogotá said included parts of its Caribbean territorial waters.

“Colombia rejects the fact that, under the pretext of an environmental protection measure and in contravention of international law, Nicaragua includes and qualifies portions of the Caribbean Sea as if they were part of its territory,” the Colmbian foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said that a law approved recently by the Nicaraguan parliament is “unilateral” and “does not comply with international requirements and procedures for the recognition of areas and places of special interest and environmental protection.”

In January, Nicaragua’s parliament authorized the creation of the so-called “Nicaraguan Caribbean Biosphere Reserve” with an area of more than four million hectares and 72 protected areas.

Colombia’s foreign ministry said that the decision “ignores the existence … of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve” in Colombia, which was declared a natural reserve in 2000 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The two countries are facing off over a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that in 2012 set the maritime limits in the Caribbean Sea and granted Nicaragua part of the territory that had belonged to Colombia.

For Colombia, the new declaration is “one more attempt” by the Central American country to “pretend compliance and respect” for human rights and the environment before the ICJ.

“It is widely known by the international community that the Nicaraguan authorities are systematic offenders in these matters,” the ministry added.

Trending Now

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...

Major Cocaine Seizure in Costa Rica’s South Highlights Ongoing Cartel Fight

Costa Rican police pulled off a big win against drug traffickers this Sunday, seizing over a ton of cocaine hidden in a tourism minibus...

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"...

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 Role in US Deportation Drama with Salvadoran Migrant

A Salvadoran man at the center of a heated US immigration battle could end up in Costa Rica if he accepts a guilty plea,...

Costa Rica Replaces One-Lane Bridges as Traffic and Population Grow

As the infrastructure of Costa Rica advances, with new four-lane highways and a series of bypasses around San José that avoid the narrow, congested...
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