UN Court Awards Honduras Sovereignty Of Four Cays In Dispute With Nicaragua
 
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 16:00:44 -0400

UN COURT AWARDS HONDURAS SOVEREIGNTY OF FOUR CAYS IN DISPUTE WITH NICARAGUA
 
New York, Oct  8 2007  4:00PM
The United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) today awarded 
Honduras sovereignty over four cays in the Caribbean Sea and 
delineated its maritime boundary with Nicaragua as part of a ruling 
on the long-running border dispute between the two Central American 
countries.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon immediately welcomed the <"http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/120/14075.pdf?PHPSESSID=9e033250816e6fe472e4f98312f09a37">judgement, 
issued 
by the <"http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?lang=en">ICJ 
in The Hague, and voiced trust 
that the two nations would now implement the decision in full.

“This important judgement illustrates the essential role of the International 
Court of Justice in peacefully resolving international 
disputes,” his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2786">statement.

The 17-member court ruled unanimously that Honduras has sovereignty 
over Bobel Cay, Savanna Cay, Port Royal Cay and South Cay. Also 
known as a key, a cay is a small, low-lying island or reef.

A majority of the court’s judges then ruled on the starting point 
and outline of the single maritime boundary separating the territorial 
sea, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the 
two countries.

Announcing their decision, the judges said the starting point had 
been fixed three nautical miles out to sea from the point where 
a 1962 commission had identified as the end of the land boundary 
in the mouth of the River Coco.

The shifting deposits left by the River Coco means the exact site 
of the river mouth remains uncertain, the ICJ said, instructing 
Nicaragua and Honduras to take part in negotiations to agree on the 
course of a line between the endpoint of the land boundary and 
the start of the maritime boundary three miles out to sea.

Today’s ruling was issued after Nicaragua brought proceedings at 
the ICJ against Honduras in 1999, saying that diplomatic negotiations 
over the disputed boundary had failed.

Sometimes known as the World Court, the ICJ adjudicates disputes 
between States and its judgements are binding and cannot be appealed.
 2007-10-08 00:00:00.000 


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