Nicaragua reaffirms sovereignty over San Juan River

The head of Nicaragua's armed forces on Wednesday restated the nation's sovereignty over the disputed San Juan River marking its border with Costa Rica.

Army Chief Omar Halleslevens made a public statement on the matter one day after Nicaragua presented a report to The Hague Tribunal over the river.

The Nicaraguan report was in response to an earlier report presented by Costa Rica.

Costa Rica had said in its report it recognizes Nicaragua's sovereignty over the river. However, it also said it wishes to patrol the river with armed coast guards, something that Nicaragua opposes.

In his statement, Halleslevens said Costa Rica must first ratify the sovereignty of the river, which passes through the Nicaraguan provinces of Rivas, Chontales and Boaco.

"Starting from this point, we are certain that all the suggestions that Nicaragua makes via its foreign ministry are rightful," he said.

Nicaragua's report to The Hague Tribunal said that it has never barred Costa Rica from commercial navigation in the river, and that this is in line with the Jerez-Cana Limit Treaty between the two countries.

The San Juan River, which marks the border of the two countries but runs through Nicaraguan territory, has been a disputed area since 1998, when then-Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Aleman banned armed Costa Rican police patrol boats from the river.

Costa Rica insists that it have 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.

Following protests by Costa Rica, an agreement was reached allowing for Costa Rica's civil guards to carry arms on the river while under escort by Nicaraguan forces.

But the agreement broke down a few months later and the two nations have been unable to hammer out a new one.

Source: Xinhua