Written reply of the Republic of Honduras to the question put by Judge ad hoc Gaja at the public sitting held on 16 March 2007

QUESTION PUT BY JUDGE AD HOC GAJA

May Logwood Cay and Media Luna Cay be currently regarded as islands within the
meaning of Article 121, paragraph 1, ofthe UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the

Sea?

1. On 22"d March 2007 Counsel for Honduras provided a preliminary response in
answer to the question from Judge ad hoc Gaja, on the basis of the evidence that

was then available and before the Court (CR 2007/13, pages 44/45). Honduras
also expressed the hope that it would be able to provide further information in its
written response.

2. In exercise of its sovereignty over the areas Honduras has carried out a number of
visits to the area, by air and naval patrol. A first visit was made by air on 21
March 2007, between 2200 and 2300 hours (UTC). A second visit was made by

sea on 23 March 2007 between 0600 and 1800 hours (local time). A third visit
was made by sea on 30 March 2007 between 0600 and 2300 hours (local time).

3. Visual observations during the course of these visits have confirmed that
Logwood Cay (Cayo Palo de Campeche) is above water but that Media Luna Cay
is submerged.

4. Attached as Annex A is a Notarial Statement (together with certified translation)
of Mr. Douglas B. Diaz dated 2 April 2007, witnessing a declaration by Mr
Hector Manuel Tercero Lopez, Commander DEMN of the Honduran Naval Force.

It statesn part:

"They sailed to Media Luna reef, reaching this section at 16:25 hours, then

dropped anchor in position 15°11'52" N - 082°42'25"W; afterwards, a zodiac
type boat was lowered from the ship in order to reach the exact position of
Logwood Cay at 15°11'30" N- 082°41'45"W, confirming this as the location

of such cay, which is above sea leve! and has an area of approximately 40
meters (see attached photographs);" 1

5. Copies of the photographs of Logwood Cay (Cayo Palo de Campeche) to which

Commander Lopez has referred are attached as Annex B.

1On the basis of tidal information relating to the closest port (Guanaja, Honduras), the time at which
Commander Lopez visited Logwood Cay (Cayo Palo de Campeche) was approaching high tide (the
Caribbean Sea is known for the minimal amplitude of its tides). Honduras calculates that the tide at 17:00
hours on 30 March 2007 was .6948 feet above low tide for the day (or 8.34 inches), that high tide was still
116 minutes away, and that the increase from 17:00 to 18:56 would only be another .2651 feet (or 3.18
inches). This confirms that the feature in the photograph would remain above water at high tide, given an
expected increase of only another 3 or 4 inches of anticipated tidai rise. The information relating to tides at

Guanaja is attached at Annex D. 6. A close up ofNIMA nautical chart 28140 is attached at Annex C. This identifies
the location of the coordinates 15°11'30" N- 082°41'45"W, as referred to in the
statement of Commander Lopez. lt can be seen that GPS coordinates obtained

during the site visitof30 March 2007 ofLogwood Cay (Palo de Campeche) align
exactly with a small islet depicted on NIMA chart 28140, which is the only islet
in close proximity to the name Logwood Cay. 2

7. These considerations confirm that Logwood Cay (Cayo Palo de Campeche) may
currently be regarded as an island, and that Media Luna Cay is a reef and not an
island. These conclusions are consistent with the Landsat image (Plate PS3.7.1)
taken on 12 January 2003, the details ofwhich have been provided to the Court by

letter dated 29 March 2007.

8. These findings cannot in any event affect Honduras' sovereignty over the islands

that lie to the north of the 15thparallel. There is no disagreement between the
parties that the evidence before the Court indicates that Logwood Cay (Cayo Palo
de Campeche) and Media Luna Cay were islands inter alia in the period from

1936 to 1982, when they were first referred to in Honduran legislation and the
Constitution. There is also no dispute between the parties that other features -
including in particular Bobel Cay, Savanna Cay, Port Royal Cay and South Cay­
are also islands within the meaning of Article 121(1) of the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea.

2 On NIMA chart 28140 the name "Logwood Cay" is placed slightly north of this islet location
(approximately 611Oths of a nautical mile), in an area where there are no charted islets or islands. In
preparing its charts in the written pleadings Honduras made use of the NIMA chart because it was
published more recently (21 September 1985) than the first edition of BA chart 2425 (published on 29 June
1917 with major updates on 23 August 1929). Reliance on the much older BA chart indicates that the
variance between the charted position and the actual position as observed is less than one nautical mile.

2 EMBASSY OF HONDURAS TO THE KINGDOM
OF THE NETHERLANDS

CERTIFICATION

The undersigned, Co-Agent of the Republic of Honduras, in accordance with Article 51
paragraph 3 of the Rules of Court, certifies that the documents contained in this file and
listed hereunder, are true and accurate copies the original of the documents, one of

them fully translated into English. These documents are provided to the Court as part of
the written reply of the Honduran Govemment to the question put by Judge ad hoc Gaja
to both Parties at the public sitting held onMarch 2007 in the case conceming the
Maritime Delimitation between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea
(Nicaragua v. Honduras).

List of documents

1. Notarial Certificate dated 2 April2007, issued by Mr. Douglas B. Diaz G., Notary
Public, registered in the Bar AssociationHonduras under licence number 766,
witnessing the declarationof Mr. Hector Manuel Tercero L6pez, Commander
DEMN of the Honduran Naval Force (AnnexA).
2. Copies of photographs of Logwood Cay taken on 30 March 2007 by the the crew

ofthe coastguard vessel L.P. CHAMELECON, Registration No. FHN-8501 ofthe
Naval Force of Honduras (Annex B).
3. Close-up ofNIMA nautical chart 28140 (Annex C).
4. Information relating to tides at Guanaja, Honduras (Annex D).

In witness whereof, 1issue this Certification on 5 April 2007 in The Hague.

Julio Rend6n Bamica
Co-Agent of the Republic of Honduras ANNEXA

NOTARIAL CERTIFICATE DATED 2 APRIL 2007, ISSUED BY MR. DOUGLAS B.
DIAZ G., NOTARY PUBLIC, REGISTERED IN THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF
HONDURAS UNDER LICENCE NUMBER 766, WITNESSING THE
DECLARATION OF MR. HECTOR MANUEL TERCERO LOPEZ, COMMANDER

DEMN OF THE HONDURAN NAVAL FORCE. CERTIFIED COPY
OF
PUBLICDEED

NUMBER35

NOTARIAL CERTIFICATE

REQUESTED BY: RAMON VALLADARES SOTO,
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF BOUNDARIES AND

INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

FOR: HIMSELF

AUTHORIZED BY THE NOTARY
DOUGLAS B. DIAZ G.
Licence No. 766

Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., 22007 Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.
[Stamp, seal and signature]

Official Paper No. 3059605
CERTIFIED COPY

"PUBLIC DEED NUMBER THIRTY FIVE (35). In the city of Tegucigalpa,
Municipality of the Central District, on the second day of April of the year Two
Thousand and Seven. I, Douglas B. Diaz, Notary Public with domicile in Colonia
Florencia Sur, Second Street, house number three thousand six hundred forty one (3641),
Boulevard Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, registered in the Bar Association of Honduras under

number Zero Seven Six Six (0766) and registered as Notary at the Supreme Court of
Justice under number Five Hundred Forty Nine (549), state that on this date I was
requested by Mr. Ramon Valladares Soto, of legal age, widower, a Lawyer and Notary
Public by profession, Honduran, identity card number 0705-1917-00098, and with
domicile in this Central District, who expresses that in his condition as Director-General

of Boundaries and International Waters of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Honduras
and upon instructions of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Attorney Milton Jiménez
Puerto, he asks that I, the Notary, certify the following facts. To that effect, I personally
went to the said Ministry and certify that in my presence, Mr. HECTOR MANUEL

TERCERO LOPEZ, Commander DEMN Honduran Naval Force FNH0-1947, declared
that: on30 March 2007 at 0600 hours, the ship L.P. CHAMELECON with registration
number FNH-8501, length of 85 feet, breadth of 13 feet, draught of 6 feet, two motors
Detroit Diesel 16V of 900 HP, gray color, Coastguard type, set sail from the NAVAL
BASE OF CARATASCA with the following crew: Claudio Hazael Paz Cortes,

Midshipman C.G., series FNH0-3294, identity card number 0318-1983-01828; Juan
Ramon Vallecillo, Officer, series FNHS0-0081, identity card number 1807-1974-00731;
Bruce Windell Bodden Sanchez, Master III, identity card number 1101-1984-00092; Luis
Alonso Mejia Moreno, Master III, identity 0501-1985-00257; Edixon Romero Garcia,
Master III, identity number205-1986-01272; Irvin Didier Viera, Petty Officer, identity

number 0506-1987-01610; Rene Alexander Renau, Petty Officer, identity number 0506-
1986-00022; Fernando Enrique Lopez Torres, sailor, identity number 0501-1985-02810;
Pedro Daniel Enrique Castellanos, sailor, identity number 0401-1988-00621; Juan
AgustinA vila Gil, sailor, identity number7-1985-00106. They were accompanied by

Engineer Miguel Tosta Appel and Mr. Rolando Meza Rubi, topographer, both members
of the Commission of Sovereignty and Boundaries of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
They sailed to Media Luna reef, reaching this section at 16:25 hours, then dropped anchor
in position 15°11'52" N - 082°42'25"W; afterwards, a zodiac type boat was lowered
from the ship in order to reach the exact position of Logwood Cay at 15°11'30" N -

082°41'45"W, confirming this as the location of such cay, which is above sea level and
hasan area of approximately 40 meters (see attached photographs); after this verification,
we have returned to the L.P. CHAMELECON thirty minutes later, raising the zodiac type
boat. Minutes later, the ship weighed anchor and sailed to Media Luna Cay, reaching theexact position of 15°08'15" N - 082°41 '45" W at 18:20 hours, confirming that in this
position there is not any cay; once the verification was completed, we dropped anchor
due to mechanical failures in the turbine and at 23:00 hours we weighed anchor and
sailed to Naval Base of Caratasca, and berthed at the quay of this base on 31 March 2007

at 0700 hours, with the aforementioned report. This mission required the consumption of
500 gallons of diesel, 100 gallons of water and 10 gallons of gasoline. Witnessed this
moming at eleven hours. Thus having read the contents of this notarial certificate to the
requesting persan, and finding it in accordance with the statements therein, he ratifies it,

finger-prints it and signs it, in the presence of the undersigned Notary. Witnessed.
Signature and Finger-Print. RAMON VALLADARES SOTO. Signature and Notarial
Seal.DOUGLAS B. DIAZ."
And at the request of Mr. RAMON VALLADARES SOTO, in his condition as Director­
General of Boundaries and International Waters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

Honduras, I issue, sign and seal this first copy, in the same city and date of its issuance,
on the corresponding official paper, with its original remaining filed in my official
registry for this year, where I recorded the issuance this copy.

(Signature and Seal of the Notary Public)

[Stamp]

APOSTILLE
# 3541/2007
Ministry ofF oreign Affairs ISEALl
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS

[STAMP]

[Seal] S.R.E. HONDURAS 354112007

This Ministry is not
responsible for the contents of
the document

Apostille
(Convention de la Haye du 5 ocubre 1961)

Duties Lps. 150.00
ReceiptNo .......... .

In Honduras the present public document has been signed by:
DOUGLAS B. DIAZ G.

Who acts in his condition as:

ATTORNEY AT LAW ANDNOTARYPUBLIC

And it is stamped with the seal that is used by:
DOUGLAS B. DIAZ G.

Certified in: TEGUCIGALPA M.D.C. by JUAN RAMON RIVERA
Secretary-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

HONDURAS C.A. the 2nct of April of 2007

ISigned and stampedJ.
SignatureOtorgado por RAMON VALLAOARES SOTO, DIRECTOR GENERAL DE LIMITES

A faoor de___________________O _ PAPEL SELLADO

CINCO LEMPI
2004-2007

NQ 3059605

1 TESTIMONIO

IN~TRUMEN TlMERO TRDNTA Y CINCO (35).Enla Ciudad de Tegucigalpa,
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12

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25 orinaleenmiProtoctotrienteUevoenel senteaconelcualconcuerdaen PAPEL SELLADO OFICIAL
CINCO LEMPIRAS
2004-2007

NQ 3059605

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25 SECRETARIA DE RELAClONES EXTERIORES

DE LA REPUBLICA DE HONDURAS

~.1}141007
---- --~·-
Honduras

Apostille

(Convention de la Haye du 5 octubre 1961)

S.R.E.
Oerechos.

No. Rec1bo:

En Honduras el presente docume.11topùbi!Cli ha sida flrmado

QOIJGLA$ B. DIAZ G.

qulÊ!11 acltla on de·idad

A80GADO 'i NQT.~RIPOBLICO

y esta revesttdo del !;&llo corre;spond1ernte a:

DOUGLAS B. DIAZ. G.

Gertifica~n: TEGl)CIGALPf. M.D.C. _ por· __JU~N RAMON RIVER.~

SaCI'etano General de la Secretarla de Relaclonas Exteriores ANNEXB

COPIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF LOGWOOD CAY TAKEN ON 30 MARCH 2007
BY THE THE CREW OF THE COASTGUARD VESSEL L.P. CHAMELECON,
REGISTRATION NO. FHN-8501 OF THE NAVAL FORCE OF HONDURAS. ANNEXC

CLOSE UP OF NIMA NAUTICAL CHART 28140 llj-

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23 ANNEXD

INFORMATION RELATING TO TIDES AT GUANAJA, HONDURASIsla d_e Gua.naja, B'on,duras
16~AB33~ Ji 15~9000° W

2007-03-30 12 : 08 A.M."CS'T.' 0.01 ·fa·et L,ow !fi,do
2007-03-30 5 t40 A.M CS'T Sun:rise
2007-03•30 6:>56 Alwl CS'T.; 0 ..84 feet Bigh Tide

2007-03-30 11::56 AM ·CS'T 0 ...12f·eat LiOW T'i·de
2007-03.-30 5:56 PM CSllf Suos·ë.'t
2007-03-30 6:.56 PM ;C.ST. 1 ..08 :feet o1ÇJi1l_i.'el._
200"""l-03-31 12 :J.1· Al(·'CST. 0 .04, f\eet Low i'·ida

2'.007·~•03-31 5 : 39 J.J(;C.ST.' Sur1ris;e
2001-03-31 1: 19 Aloi iCST. 0.94 .fe.et Big'b Ti·dB
2:007-03-31 12 r4l P)l·. Ti.C~S0.01 f.eet Low ·Tid'e

2007~03-31 s :·56 PM. . cs~ sunsa~t 'lsilla@• u.âftaja,·••'H·n'n.n·•il'r
:2007-03-31 7':36 l?M \CSifl 1·.os .f.e.et High ,T'ide
:roo7-04·•0l 1:03 AM CS'T. O.Jl7 f·eet LtOW .Ti'd'e
ISLA DE·~"'t'il~l
2001-04-0l 5i38 AM··\CS'T Sunr·ise
2007 ...04,...1 1:40 ld+irCST 1.03 f·aet Digh T'ide
2007 ...4-01 1:2.1 PM CSiiJI -0 .•08 fee't Irow '!''ide _..,;':;;)
2(Hl7a...04-01 5:56 PM CS'T. Sunsè.t ··..JT

2007-,04-01 B·al2 P)l iCST 1 •.0.2. fë·et Bigb \Tide
200.7-04,•02 1::2.8 AM: ;CJST. o.···llfa,et LiO'W Tid~
2007-04,-0.2 5·•:38 AM:.tCST Sun.:rise
2001 ..0.4~02 9:01 A:M CST 1...ll :f\e.et..c19il;.,iLJe·.•

2:.007-04-02 11:15 AM··i. ST Full )lo,o;r:~
2007-04•02 ltSB PM ·csltf' -0.14: feet Low Tide
2Jl07-Q4,-02 S ::S6 PM ;CST.' Sunset

2001'-04·•02 8 ::47 PM CST' o.·98 fest Big'h·Tids
2007•fJ4,-0J 1·: 52 .AM·..!CS'T 0.16 f'B·et L.·owT.'id:a