Costa Rica took a disputed river navigation case to the United Nations' highest court on Tuesday, defending its claim against Nicaragua to navigate freely on the San Juan River, which they share as a border.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno told reporters that his country's decision to take the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague showed its willingness to solve conflicts peacefully.

"We are hoping that this matter, which has been a point of contention for both nations for nearly 150 years, will be elucidated once and for all," Stagno said.

Costa Rica first indicated its intention to go to court in the 1990s, when Nicaragua banned Costa Rican police from the river, saying it was a violation of its sovereignty.

Costa Rica's embassy in the Netherlands had delivered six files containing 1,290 pages of arguments to the court, the minister said.

The next step in the process is for Nicaragua to present its arguments to the court, which will in turn analyze both, call for a hearing and hand down a ruling.

Stagno estimated the process would take one or two weeks.

Source: Xinhua