Territorial and Maritime dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia) - Fixing of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928
Website: www.icj-cij.org

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2002/7
1 March 2002

Territorial and Maritime Dispute
(Nicaragua v. Colombia)

Fixing of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

THE HAGUE, 1 March 2002. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has fixed time-limits

for the filing of written pleadings in the case oncerning the Territorial and Maritime Dispute
(Nicaragua v. Colombia).

By an Order of 26 February 2002 the Court, taking into account the views expressed by the
Parties, fixed 28April2003 as the time-limit for the filing of a Memorial by Nicaragua and

28 June 2004 as the time-limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Colombia.

The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.

History of the proceedings

On 6December2001 Nicaragua instituted pro ceedings against Colombia with regard to
“legal issues subsisting” between the two St ates “concerning title to territory and maritime
delimitation” in the western Caribbean.

In its Application, Nicaragua requests the Court to adjudge and declare:

“First , that . . . Nicaragua has sovereignty over the islands of Providencia, San
Andres and Santa Catalina and a ll the appurtenant islands a nd keys, and also over the

Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla a nd Quitasueño keys (in so far as they are capable of
appropriation);

Second , in the light of the determinations concerning title requested above, the
Court is asked further to determine th e course of the single maritime boundary

between the areas of continental shelf a nd exclusive economic zone appertaining
respectively to Nicaragua and Colombia, in accordance with equitable principles and
relevant circumstances recognized by general international law as applicable to such a
delimitation of a single maritime boundary.”

Nicaragua further indicates that it “reserves th e right to claim compensation for elements of
unjust enrichment consequent upon Colombian possession of the Islands of San Andres and
Providencia as well as the keys and maritime spaces up to the 82 meridian, in the absence of lawful

title”. It also “reserves the right to claim comensation for interference with fishing vessels of
Nicaraguan nationality or vessels licensed by Nicaragua”. - 2 -

As a basis for the Court’s jurisd iction, Nicaragua invokes inter alia Article XXXI of the
American Treaty on Pacific Settlement (officia lly known as the “Pact of Bogotá”), signed on

30 April 1948, to which both Nicaragua and Colombia are parties.

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The full text of the Court’s Order will shortly be available on the Court’s website at the
following address: http://www.icj-cij.org

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Information Department:

Mr. Arthur Th. Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (+ 31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (+ 31 70 302 23 37)
Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officer (+ 31 70 302 23 37)

Email address: [email protected]