Colombia must stop activity in Nicaraguan maritime zone: UN court

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) found Thursday that Colombia violated Nicaragua’s “sovereignty and jurisdiction” in its exclusive economic zone by authorizing fishing activities in Nicaraguan waters.

It ordered the South American country to “immediately cease” its actions.

Judges of the UN top court in The Hague read the ruling on the lawsuit filed by Nicaragua for the alleged violation of maritime sovereignty.

The court found that “by interfering with fishing and marine scientific research activities of Nicaraguan flagged or Nicaraguan licensed vessels and with the operations on Nicaraguan naval vessels in the republic of Nicaragua's exclusive economic zone and by purporting to enforce conservation measures in that zone, the republic of Colombia has violated the republic of Nicaragua's sovereign rights and jurisdictions," said presiding judge Joan Donoghue.

Nicaragua and Colombia have disputed the sovereignty of the archipelago of the islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina for decades and also the right to freely exercise activities in the disputed waters.

In November 2013, Nicaragua accused Colombia of failing to comply with the ruling issued by The Hague in 2012, which established new maritime boundaries between the two nations.

According to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Colombia violated its sovereignty by holding operations with the Colombian Navy in the Nicaraguan Caribbean Sea zone and subsequently issuing a decree establishing security control 24 nautical miles from San Andres.

Colombia has defended its presence in the region to fight against drug trafficking and it accused Nicaragua of interfering with the artisanal fishing rights of the local community.

From San Andres, where he listened to the reading of the ruling, Colombian President Ivan Duque said: "We listened to the ruling of the ICJ on the border dispute with Nicaragua. We reiterate that in the defense of the interests of our country there are no political or partisan colors, here we are all Colombia.”

The Colombian agent before the International Court, Carlos Gustavo Arrieta, said, "Colombia is very satisfied with the decision."