Foreign Minister Tovar Says There 99 Good Reasons Why Ticos Have Access To The San Juan River
During his last press conference, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign Minister), Roberto Tovar Faja, spelled out 99 fundamental reasons why Costa Rica has the right to navigate the río San Juan, the river that divides the two country.

The river is in Nicaraguan territory and Costa Rica has no claim to it, but it does have the right, based on an old agreement between the two countries, to navigate the river. Costa Rica has made a formal complaint to the International Court at the Hague last September 28, following a dispute with the northern neighbour.

"Costa Rica is not claiming more rights other than what the related legal documents giving Costa Rica the right to navigate the river", said Tovar.

The Court gave Costa Rica nine months or until August 29 to present its charges, which then Nicaragua has nine months to present its countercharges.

"Costa Rica's charges, if it where required to be presented today, ready. However during the remaining time new legal documents or arguments could surface", indicated the Minister, who will be leaving office in 11 days, making way for a new Foreign Minister under the Arias administration.

Last October, Nicaragua's foreign ministry recalled Ambassador Francisco Fiallos from Costa Rica.

The dispute of the countries over navigational rights on the San Juan river dates back to almost a decade. The dispute has led President Nicaraguan Enrique Bolaños to send troops to the border region.

As a result of the dispute and Costa Rica's decision to go to the International Court, Nicaragua imposed a 35% import tax on all Costa Rican goods to finance the dispute of the river in court. Costa Rica says it will argue that point at the international court as well if applied.

Nicaragua also decided that all Costa Ricans need a visa to enter Nicaragua, which document is given to any Costa Rican with the payment of us$20.

Costa Rica argues that it has full navigation rights based on the 1858 Canas-Jerez Treaty, which granted ownership of the river to Nicaragua but permitted commercial use by Costa Rica on a section of the river along its border.

According to the 1858, the San Juan, which separated the two countries, belonged to Nicaragua, but Costa Rica was allowed "free and perpetual" commercial access to the river.