Nicaragua looking to President of UNASUR for support

Minister of Development of Nicaragua, Lumberto Campbell has said that his recent exchange with President Bharrat Jagdeo was fruitful and they are looking forward for his support in his capacity as President of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), a portfolio which he assumed a week ago.

President Bharrat on Thursday received a call from the Minister of Development of Nicaragua, Lumberto Campbell, to highlight their point of view and clarify certain issues as it relates to the ongoing conflict between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The Nicaragua/Costa Rica San Juan River border dispute is a series of periodical conflicts between the two Central American nations over the correct delimitation of their common border at its east end, and the interpretation of the navigation rights on the San Juan River established in the Cañas-Jerez Treaty of 1858, GINA said.

The most recent disputes include an interpretation about the scope and limits of Costa Rica’s rights for free navigation and Nicaragua’s sovereign control over the San Juan River, which was resolved by the International Court of Justice in 2009; and the ongoing dispute that began in October 2010 regarding the dredging of San Juan River, in the area of Isla Calero.

According to GINA, the Organization of American States (OAS) told both governments to meet and settle the dispute, and requested Nicaragua to remove its troops from Costa Rican territory.
On November 18, Costa Rica instituted unilateral proceedings against Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and submitted an application for provisional measures.
Costa Rica claims that by occupying its territory Nicaragua is in contravention of their existing boundary agreements and is therefore violating Costa Rica’s territorial integrity.