Ortega To Propose To Costa Rica World Protection For The Calero Island Wetlands

The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, announced to propose to his Costa Rican counterpart, Laura Chinchilla, organize a global environmental brigade to protect the wetlands of Calero Island whose ownership is being disputed by both countries in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Nicaragua's army chief, General Julio Cesar Aviles (R) greets the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega (L) during the celebration of the 32 anniversary of establishment of the Air Force of Nicaragua. EFE

During the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of establishment of the Nicaragua's Air Force, which began almost four hours late, the Sandinista leader said they were "documenting" the proposal to be submitted to Chinchilla on a date not specified.

In the document, Nicaragua environmentalists propose that both countries of the Americas "and the world, join efforts to care for, protect, restore, restore the wetland" known in Nicaragua as Head Harbor, 2.5 square miles and located in the Caribbean coast that both countries are disputing.

Ortega explained that the goal is to "take care of a natural resource that belongs to the human species, the planet earth".

Both countries are in the middle of a territorial dispute since last October, when Costa Rica accused Nicaragua of a civilian and military invasion and causing environmental damage to wetland due to dredging operations in the San Juan River border of Nicaraguan sovereignty, which has been denied by Managua.

Costa Rica claims that the wetland - a piece of land located at the mouth of the San Juan - is in Costa Rican territory, while Nicaragua it is theirs.

The International Court in The Hague (ICJ) ordered in March that both countries refrain from sending in security personnel, military or civilians in the area in dispute and called on them to co-ordinate their actions against drug trafficking and organized crime at the border.

Different groups of the Sandinista Youth, loyal to the Ortega government, have been sent to the area to "defend the national sovereignty," after the ICJ issued its precautionary measures in March.

Ortega announced that he will make the proposal to Chinchilla during a speech in the context of commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the Nicaraguan Air Force.

Ortega is the middle of a re-election bid for the November presidential elections in Nicaragua.