Arias Says No To
Settlement With
Nicaragua
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, affirmed
yesterday that the
dispute with Nicaragua
over navigational rights
of San Juan river will
go to the international
court at the Hague for
settlement.
Arias said he rejects
claims made by the
Nicaraguan government
after a request by the
Nicaraguan foreign
minister, Samuel Santos,
in an attempt to reach
an agreement out of
court.
Costa Rica filed suit
with the international
court in 2005 after
Nicaraguan officials
denied Costa Rican
police patrol of the
river.
The San Juan is clearly
in Nicaraguan territory
and Costa Rica has made
no claim for the river.
However, Costa Rica has
the right to patrol the
river under a hundred
year old agreement.
Arias has not not only
said no to its
neighbours, also
reminded the efforts by
Costa Rica to reach an
agreement before filing
its claim with the
international court.
In addition, Arias said
he was surprised at the
Santos request, because
last November,
Nicaragua's president,
Daniel Ortega, while
visiting Costa Rica,
reiterated his
government's position to
let the dispute be
settled by the
international court.
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