COUR INTERNATIONDEEJUSTICE
MÉMOIRES,PLAIDOIRIESET DOCUMEhTS
AFFAIRE RELATIVE
À DES ACTIONSARMÉESFRONTALIÈRES
ET TRANSFRONTALIÈRES
(NICARACiUA c. HONDURAS)
VOLUME 1
Requête: mémoire; contre-mémoire
INTERNATIORAL COURT OF JUSTICE
PLEADINGS.ORAL ARGUMENTS,DOCUMENTS
CASECONCERNING
BORDER AND TRANSBORDER
ARMED ACTIONS
(NICARAGUA vHONDURAS)
VOLUME 1
Application; Memorial; Counter-Mernorial Référenceabrégée:
CIJ. Mémoires.Acrions armées frontalièreser rrirn.sfronr~r1ii.re.s
(Nicurrrgc.Honduras)vol.1
Abbreviated reference:
I.C.JPleadings,Border and TransborderArtfred Acriotrs
(Nicaragiv.HondrrrasVol. 1
W" vente: 6-0 1
Salesnumher AFFAIRE RELATIVE
À DES ACTIONS ARMÉES FRONTALI~RES
ET TRANSFRONTALIÈRES (NICARAGUA c. HONDURAS)
CASE CONCERNING
BORDER AND TRANSBORDER ARMED ACTIONS
(NICARAGUA vHONDURAS) COUR INTERNATIONADE JUSTICE
MÉMOIRES. PLAIDOIRIES ET DOCUMENTS
AFFAIRE RELATIVE
À DES ACTIONS ARMÉES FRONTALIÈRES
ET TRANSFRONTALIÈRES
(NICARAGUA c. HONDURAS)
VOLUME 1
Requète; mémoire; contre-iiiénioirc
INTERNATIONACOUKT OF JUSTICE
PLEADINGS, ORAL ARGUMENTS, DOCUMENTS
CASE CONCERNING
BORDER AND TRANSBORDER
ARMED ACTIONS
(NICARAGUA v. HONDURAS)
VOLUME 1
Application; MernCounter-Memorial L'affaire relativeàdes Actions arméesfrontalières fe rl nsfrorrtiiliè(Nico-
ragtra c. Honduras), inscrite au rôle généralde la Cour sous le numéro 74
le 28juillet 1986.a fait l'objet d'unarrêtrendu le 20 décembre1988portant sur
la compétence de la Cour et la recevabilité de la requête (Acfions armées
fronrnlièreset rransfron~alière(Nicaragr~ac. Ho~rd~rras)c,ompétence et receva-
bilité,arrêt,CIJ. Reci'eil1988, p. 69). A la suite du désistement du gouverne-
ment demandeur, elle a étérayke du rôle par ordonnance de la Cour du 27mai
1992 (Actions artnéesfror~talièreset rranrfrontitlières(Nicaragiinc. Hundr~ras),
ordorinancedu 27 mai 1992,C.I.J. Rec~ieil1992, p. 222).
Les pièces de procédure écrite et les plaidoiries relatives à cette affaire
sont publiées dans l'ordre suivant:
Volume 1. Requéte introductive d'instance du Nicaragua; mémoire du Hon-
duras; contre-mémoire du Nicararua;-demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires du Nicaragua.
Volume II. Procédure orale; documents présentésAla Cour après la fin de la
procedure écrite; correspondance.
Dans les références,les chiffres romains gras indiquent les volunies de la
nrésente édition. La oaeinatiort et les renvois des oièces de procédure et des
comptes rendus des iugences ont étémodifiésen'conséquènce.
Ni la typographie ni la présentation ne sauraient étreutilisées aux finsde
l'interprétation des textes reproduits.
The case concerning Border and TransborderArmed Actions (Nicaragua
v. Ilondurus), which was entered on the Court's General List on 28 July 1986
under Number 74, was the subject of a Judgment delivered on 20 Decem-
ber 1988 concerning the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of
the Application (Border and TransborderArmed Acfions (Nicarngtin v.Hon-
dtrras),Jurisdicfionand Adr~~issibilityJ,irdgment,I.C.J. Reporrs 1988, p. 69).
Following discontinuance by the Applicant Government. the case was re-
moved from the list by an Order of the Court of 27 May 1992 (Border and
TransborderArn~edAcfions (h'icaragtia v. Honduras), Order of 27 May 1992,
I.C.J. Reports 1992, p. 222).
The pleadings and oral arguments in the case are being published in the
following order:
Volume 1. Application instituting proceedings of Nicaragua: Memonal of
Honduras; Counter-Memorial of Nicaragua; request for the indication of
provisional measures of Nicaragua.
Volume II. Oral Arguments; Documents submitted to the Court after the
closure of the written proceedings; Correspondence.
In infernal referenccs. bold Roman numerals are used to refer to Volumes
of this edition. The and the cross-references in the pleadings and
in the verbatim records of the hearings have been altered consequently.
Ncither the typography nor the presentation may be used for the purpose
of interpreting the texts reproduced. TABLE DES MATIÈKES -CONTENTS
Requête introductive d'instance prtsentée par le Gouvernement du
Nicaragua - Application lnstituting Priiceedings Suhmitted by the
Government of Nicaragua
1. STATEMENTOF FACTS ................
II. LEGALGROUNDS ON WHICHTtIE Cl.r\lM IS BASED .....
1. Brcaches of the Charler of Ihc United Nations ......
2. Brcaches of the Charter of the Organization of Amcrican
st;itcs ....................
3. Breachçs i~fthe American Trc;iiy Ii~rthe Pcaccful Scttlcmcnt [of
Disputïs] (Pact of Bogoti) .............
4. Brcaches of the obligatir~n <ifcustomary international law not Lu
iniervcne in the affairs of another State .........
5. Brcaches of the obligation of customary international law no1 to
use force aeainst another Siatc ............
kill. wound or kidnai the citizcns of oiher States . .
111.'SHENATUREOFTHECLAIM ..........
Mtmoire du Honduras (cnmptteiice et recevabilité) - Memiirial i)f
Honduras (Jurisdiction and Admissibility)
INTRODUClION ...................
PART1. THE BACKGROUND OFTHE DISPUTE .........
Chapicr 1. The present dispuiç as part of the general conflict in
Central America .................
Section 1. The causes of the conflici in Central America ...
Section II. Thc position of Honduras in the Central Amcrican
conflici ...................
Secwork of the OASeacef................ disputes within the framc-
Secflict: froin bilateral to multilatcral procedures...... the con-
Scciion V. The Contadora ncgotiaiions as a "special procedure"
wiihin the meaning of Article II of thc Pact of Bogota ....
Sçction VI. Nicaraguan responsibililics for blocking the Conts-
dora process ..................
Chapter II. Analysis of the Nicaraguan Application ......
Section 1. Artificiality of the Application .........
Section II. Vagueness of the Application .........
Scction III. Concluding remarks ............PARTII. THE QUESTIONOFTHECOMPETENCE OFTHECOURT ...
Introduction ...................
Chapter III. Objections to the admissibility of the dispute . , . .
Section 1.The requirement that, in the opinion of the parties, the
dispute cannot bc scttled by direct negotiations .....
Section II. Thc obligation on parties, having opted for a "special
procediire" for the settlement of any controversy, not to com-
mence any oitier procedure until that "special procedure" has
been concluded .................
Chapter IV. Objections to the jurisdiction of the Court .....
Section 1.The Statute of the Court ...........
A. Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Court and the
dcclarations made thereunder by Honduras and Nicaragua
1. The position of Honduras ...........
2. The position of Nicaragua ...........
3. The effect of the reservations made by Nicaragua and
Honduras to the jurisdiction of the Court .....
(ci)Nicaragua's "reservation" ..........
(b) Reservations of Honduras .........
(i) The reservation of "disputes relating to facts or
situations originating in armed conflicts or acts
of a similar nature which mav affect~~he terr- ~-~~~
ter) of the Hepublic ui ticmJ"r:is. and inwhich
11mtiy find it\elf in\olved directlv ur indirectls '
(para: 2 (c) of the declaration) : ......
(ii) The reservation of "disputes in rcspeci of
which the parties have agreed or may agree to
resort to other means for the pacific settlement
of disputes" (para. 2 (a) of the declaration) . .
B. Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and its
relation to the Pact ofBogoti ...........
Section II. The system of the Pact of Bogoti
A. Articulation of the regional system and of the general sys-
tem for the settlement of disputes .........
B. The general spirit and the ultimaie purpose of the Pact of
Bogoti ...................
C. Examination of the relevant provisions of the Pact of Bo-
gota. ...................
1. Articles II and IV of the Pact of Bogota ......
2. Situation of Article XXXI within Chapter IV of the Pact
of Bogoti .................
D. The effect of reservations in the context of the alternative
analysis of Article XXXI of the Pact ........
I. The cllcct <,f rcwrvstions t,o Jecl:~r;tti<~nssonccriiing
Art~clc 36. p:ir;tgr:iph 2. ,ifthe St3tute of the Court . .
? FIfcct (ifrcicr\,:itiuns cunccrning ihc Pact of bugut2 . . 3. Examinaiion of the intention of Honduras in the present
case ...................
4. Conclusions ................
SUBMISSIONS ....................
Anriexes ro rheMernorial ofIlonduras
A. Regional negotiations among Central American States
Annex 1. Resolution II approved by the XVllth Meeting of Consiil-
talion of Ministers of Foreign Relations of the Organization of
American States (OAS), 23 June 1979 ..........
Annex 2. Guasaule Declaration. joint communiqué issued by His
Excellency the President of the Republic of Honduras, General
Policarpo Paz Garcia, and the Co-ordinator of the National Re-
construction Governing Junta of Nicaragua, Commander in the
Revolution Daniel Ortega Saavedra, as a result of their meeting
on 13May 1981at the frontier station of El Guasaule, Nicaragua,
13 May 1981 ...................
Annex S. Plan of the Government of Honduras to internationalize
peace in Central America; Address by the Minister of Foreign
Relations of Honduras Io the Permanent Council of the Organi-
zation of American States (OAS), 23 March 1982(excerpts) . .
Annex 4. Note of the Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras to
the Minister of Foreign Relations of Nicaragua, 23 April 1982. .
Annex 5. Note of the Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras to
the Minister of Foreign Relations of Nicaragua, 14May 1982 . .
Annex 6. Final Act of the Meetine-of Ministers for Foreien Rela-
lions of Countries lnterested in the Furthering of Democracy in
Central America and the Caribbean, Points 1, II and 111,4 Octo-
ber 1982 ....................
Anne.r 7 Note [rom the Permanent Mission of Honduras transcri-
bing the text of the invitation that the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Honduras sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua
to visit the border zone between the two countries, 22 February
1983 .....................
Annex K. Report of the Minister for Foreign Relations to the Na-
tional Coneae~ ~ ~ ~onduras dated 15 June 1983 (excer~t) . .
Annex 9. Declaration of Contadora Island by the ~in;sterif Foreign
Relations of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, 9 Janu-
ary 1983. ....................
Annex IO. Draft resolution presented by the Permanent Mission of
Honduras at the special meeting of the Permanent Council of the
Organization of Americaii States held on 5 April 1983 ....
Annex II. Informative Bulletin of the Contadora Group, 21 April
1983 .....................
Annex 12. Statement by the Permanent Representative of Honduras
io the Permanent Council of the OAS relating to threats to Central
American peace and security on 14July 1983. .......
Annex 13. Cancun Declaration on Peace in Central America, Decla-
ration by the Presidents of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Vene-
zuela (United Nations document Sl15877, Annex). Cancun,
17 July 1983 ...................XII TABLE DES MATIERE S CONTENTS
Annex 14. Speech of 19 July 1983 by Commander Daniel Ortega
Saavedra. Co-ordinalor of the National Reconstruction Govern-
ing Junta of Nicaragua, La Trihrina. Tegucigalpa, 22 July 1983
(excerpt) ....................
Antrex 15. Press release of the Ministers of Foreign Relati«ns of the
Contadora Groiip and of the Central American Countrics. 30 July
1983 .....................
Anrirr 16. "Docunient of Objectives" issued by the Joint Meeting of
Ministers of Foreign Relations of the Contadora Group and of the
Central American Countries (United Nations document Sl16041.
Annex). 9 September 1983 ...............
Ar~nex17. Measures to be taken to fulfil the commitments cntered
into in the Document of Objectives by the Joint Meeting of Minis-
ters of Foreign Relations of the Contadora Group and the Central
American Countries (United Nations document Al39171.S116262.
Appendix), 8 January 1984 ..............
Anrlex 18. Lettre, en date du 1" mai 1984, adressée au Secrétaire
généralde l'Organisation dcs Nations Unies par la reprEsent;inte
du Panama. Annexe: Bulletin d'information publié à Panama le
1"mai 1984 par les ministres des relations extérieures dcs pays
membres du groupe de Contadora et des pays d'Amérique cen-
trale (Nations Unies. doc. Sl16522). 1" mai 1984 ...... . ~
Atrtiex 19. Note from the Contadora croup to the Permanent Coun-
cil of the Organization of Americzin States, enclosing for distribu-
tion the second version of the .'Contadora Act for feace and Co-
operation in Central Amcrica" of 7 September 1984. OEAISER.
GICPllnf. 2222134.24 October 1984 ...........
Antrez;20. Declar;ition of the Foreign Ministers of the Contadora
Groupai the close of the meeting of 8 and 9 January 1985 ...
Arr~iex21. Report of thc Sçcrctary-General of the United Nations,
together with the cover of Anncx V concerning the third version
of the "Contadora Act for Peace and Co-operation in Central
America" (United Nations document A1401737.Sl17549). 9 Octo-
ber 1985 ....................
Aiti~e.r22. Letter from the Prcsidcnt of Nicaragua to the President~
of the countries of the Contadora Group and the Support Group
(United Nations document Al401894.S117634.Annex). II Novem-
ber 1985 ............
A 2.7 Sutc frein tlic r\iiihnss;iil~~r.I'crrn;~ncni Keprcscniati\,c
cd l':in:~m.~f.or\v:tdln? thICSI,?illic c~~n~niu~i~~ is~~cdhy ihc
C~~ni.idi,r.iCir<iu.iihc enri 01 thc iiis~str:riiit nicc-.nc <,fnlcni-
potentiaries on November 1985 ...........
Anriex 24. Carabelleda Message for Peace, Security and Democracy
in Central America, issued hy the Ministers of Foreign Relations
of the Contadora Group and the Support Group (United N;iti«ns
document Al4011075,Sl17736, Annex), 12January 1986 ....
A~r!ie.r25. Joint communiqué of the plenipotentiaries of Costa Rica,
El Salvador. Guatemala and Honduras (United Nations document
A/40/1117. Sl18074. Annex). 18 May 1986 .........
A~i~rer26. Esquipulas Declaration. issued by the Presidents of Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala. Honduras and Nicaragua (United
Nations document Al40111IO.S118106.Annex), 25 May 1986 . . Annex 27. Letter from the Ministers of Foreign Relations of the
Contadora Group to the Secrçtary-General of the United Nations
(United Nations document Al4011136,S118184,Annex l), 26 June
1986 .....................
Annex 28. Excerpts from the interview of the President of Nicaragua
by the Spanish Information Network (SIN), 27 July 1986 (a copy
of the vider>-tapehas been deposited al the Registry of the Inter-
national Cour1 of Justice) ..............
Antie.~29. Resolutions of the General Assembly of the Organiza-
tion of Anierican States concerning "Peace Efforts in Central
America"
Documçnt A. AGlRes. 675 (XIII-OlX3): 18November 1983 . .
Document B. AGIRes. 702 (XIV-0184): 17 November 1984 . .
Document C. AGlRes. 770 (XV-0185): 9 December 1985 ...
Document D. AGIcgdoc. 23/86: 14 November 1986 .....
Annex 30. Rcsolutions of the General Assembly of the United Na-
tions concerning the situation in Central America: Threats to in-
ternational peace and security and peace initiatives
Document A. 38/10 of 11 November 1983 ........
Document B. 3914of 26 0ctober 1984 ..........
Document C. 41 of 17November 1986 ..........
Annex 31. Extract from the Final Act of the Luxembourg Confc-
rence, II and 12November 1985 ............
Anner 32. Address hy the Minister of Foreign Relations of Hon-
duras to the General Assembly of the Organization of American
States. 13 November 1986(excerpts). ..........
Annex 33. Communiqué of the Ministers of Foreign Relations of the
Contadora Group and of the Support Group, following their
peace mission to the capitals of the five Central American coiin-
tries, acconipanied by the Secretaries-General of the Organiza-
tion of Anierican States and of the United Nations, Mexico City,
January 1987 ..................
B. Pact of Bogoti
Anner 34. American Treaty on Pacific Settlement ("Pact of Bo-
goti"). signed at the Ninth International Conference of American
States.Bogoti. 30 March-2 May 1948, official English text . .
Anne-r 35.Tr;iité américain de règlement pacifique ("Pacte de Bo-
gota"), official French tex1..............
Arlnex 36. Tr;itado Americano de Solucioncs Pacificas ("Pacto de
Bogota"), official Spanisli text ............
Annex 37 Report of the Secretary General of the Organization of
American States presented to the Council of the Organization of
American States on 3 November 1948, OASA~lnals, Vol. 1.No. 2.
1949. pp. 45-54 .................
Annex 38. Annex III to the Application in the case concerning the
A~birral Aivard Made by theKing of Spniri on 23 December 1906
(Hondi~rns v.Nicaragr~a),I.C.J.Pleiirli>~A: Washington Agree-
ment of21 July 1957: B: Resolution of the Council of the Organi-
zation of Amcrican States passed on 5 July 1957) ...... Pogr
A. Washington Agreement of 21 July 1957 ........ 231
B. Resolution of the Council of the Organization of American
States, taken on 5 July 1957 ............ 233
Annex 39. Communicationof the tex1of Decree No. 79-86of 22 May
1986 of the National Congress of the Rcpublic of Honduras, La
Gacera, No. 24.940,6 June 1986 ............ 236
Annel 40
A: Communication of the Government of Honduras to the Secre-
tary General of the Organization of American States of the
tex1 of Decree No. 79/86 of the National Congress of Hondu-
ras on the modifications of the Honduran Declaration of Re-
cognition of the Compulsory lurisdiction of the International
Court of Justice, 26 May 1986 ............ 238
B: Note from the Secretarv General of the Organization ol Ame-
rican States to the permanent ~epresentatyve of Honduras to
the Organization of American States, 30 lune 1986 .... 240
Annex 41. Communication of the tex1 of Decree No. 79/86 to the
Permanent Representatives of the Mcmber States of the Organi-
zation of American States (Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, etc.)
by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States.
30 June 1986. ..................
C. General documents
Annex 42. Note of the Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras to
the Registrar of the lnternational Court of Justice, 29 August 1986
Annex 43. Decree No. 75-86of 22 May 1986of the National Congress
of the Republic of Honduras, La Garera, No. 24.936,4 June 1986
Anne.r 44. Translations of the Declaration of Honduras of 22 May
1986 accepting the jurisdiction of the lnternational Court of Jus-
tice, for publication in the Yeorbook of the lnternational Court of
Justice for 1985-1986.A: English text: B: French text ....
Annex 45. Note from the Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Hon-
duras in the Netherlands to the Registrar of the lnternational
Court of Justice, 24 April 1984 ............
Annex 46. Exccrpt concerning Honduras from the Report of the
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), 1985-1986 (United
Nations document AlAC.961677(Part V), pp. 12-16), 15 July 1986
Anner 47. Human rights of the Nicaraguan population of Miskito
origin. A: Report of the Inter-American Commission of Human
Rights: Table of Contents and Introduction (OEA/Ser.UV/11.62.
dm. 10,rev. 3),29 November 1983;B: Excerpts from the pcriodical
La Tribirna of Tegucigalpa. concerning the exodus of the Miskito
population of Nicaragua under the direction of the Bishop of
Bluefields, Monsignor Salvador Schlaefer, 24 December 1983 . .
D. Border incidents
Annex 48. Chronology of incidents with the Republic of Nicaragua,
according to ihc Certificates of the Ministry of Foreign Relations
of Honduras
A. From 29 July 1979 through 19 November 1981 ......
B. From 19January 1982through 17July 1986. ...... TABLE DES MATIERES - CONTENTS
xv
Page
Annex 49. Communication of the Protests by the Government of
Honduras to the Organization of American States following the
destruction in the Gulf of Fonseca of a Honduran helicopter
Document A. Note No. 15/84 of 8 May 1984 (OEAlSer.GlCP1
lNF.2159184) ................. 269
Document B. Note No. 16184of 9 May 1984 (OEA/Ser.G/CP/
INF.2162184) .................. 270
Annrx 50. Note No. 04186from the Ambassador, Permanent Reprc-
sentative of Honduras, transcribing lhc text of the Note dated
March 25, 1986, sent by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Hon-
duras tu the Minister ................rs of Nicaragua (OEAlSer.
GlCP.INF.2392186) 273
A11ne.r51. Incursion by the Sandinista People's Army into Hondu-
ras from 4 tu 8 Dccemhcr 1986
A. Chronology of the invasion of Honduras by the troops of the
Sandinista Peoplc's Army (SPA) (4 to 8 December 1986) . . 275
B. Note from the Ministcr of Foreign Relations of Honduras tu
the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, 5 Decemher 1986 ... 276
C. Note from the Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras ta
the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, 6 December 1986 ... 277
D. Press Release No. 091-86 concerning the murder of a Hondu-
ran soldier captured by the Sandinista Forces, 17 December
1986 .................... 278
Cnntre-mémoire du Nicaragua (compétenceet recevabilité)
- Counier-
Memorial of Nicaragua (Jurisdiction and Adrnissibility)
INTRODUCTION ...................
PART1. JURISDIC~ION UNDER ARTICLE36 (2) OFTHESTATUTEOFTFIE
......................
COURT
Chapter 1. The Court has jurisdiction under Article 36 (2) of ils
Statute, and the Honduran declaration of 22 May 1986 is no1 ef-
fective .....................
A. Having been made with no stipulations as to duration, the
"new declaration" hv Honduras could not be withdrawn or
modified ..................
B. In ans event, the change adopted by Honduras cannot be in-
voked against Nicaragua .............
PARTII. JURLSDICTION UNDER THE PACT OF BOGOTA
Chapter 2. Article XXXl of the Pact of Bogoli provides a separÿte
and independent basis of jurisdiction in this case.....
A. The purported reservation of Honduras tu the Pact of Bogot6
was no1 made al the tirne of signature or adherence tu the
Treaty and is therefore ineffective ta vary the obligations of
Honduras under the Pact .............
B. Article XXXl establishes a binding obligation ta submit tu the
jurisdiction of.the Court with respect to disputes in the enumc-
rated categories hetween parties tu the Treaty, independent ofXVI TABLE DES MATleRES - CONTENTS
Page
any othcr unilateral or bilateral undcrtaking of any party with
respect to such disputes .............. 313
1. The langunge of the text ............. 314
2. Purpose .................. 315
3. Truv<r~ ~ ~ ~rrnfoires ............. 318
4. Contemporaneous understanding. ......... 319
5. The opinions of American jurists and other puhlicists . . 320
Chapter 3. The jurisdiction of the Court uiider Article XXXI of the
Pact is no1 subjcct to a condition prccedent of exhaustion of the
conciliation proccss ................ 321
A. Comp;irison of the texts of Articles XXXI and XXXII shows
thst thcy ;ire separate and independent modes of access to the
Court. and resorl to the Court under Article XXXI is not sub-
ject to a precondition of conciliation ......... 321
B. The work of thc Inter-American Juridical Committee both in
preparation for the Conference and in subsequent review of
the Pact of Rogoti supports the textual interpretation that
direct resort to the Court is available under Article XXXI
without the necessity of prior concilïation ....... 323
C. The wcight of the teachings of the most highly qualified publi-
cists of the Inter-American system supports the position that
exhaustion of the conciliation procedure is not a prccondition
to rcsort tothe Court under Articlï XXXI of the Pact ... 327
1. Publicists not cited in the Memorial of Honduras .... 328
2. Puhlicists cited in the Memorial of Honduras ..... 333
Conclusion ................... 335
Chapter 4. Articles II and IV of the Pact of Bogoti do no1constitute
a bar to the Court's jurisdiction in the prcscnt dispute. .... 336
A. Article II does not condition recourse to the Court under
Article XXXI upon agreement by al1 parties that a dispute
cannot he settled by direct negotiations ........ 337
B. Thc Contadora process is not a "specinl procedure" under Arti-
cle 11octhc i'actof Bogatotaand, in any cvcnt, it docs not addccss
the bil;iteral legal dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras . . 341
1. Neither the parties. the Contadora countries nor any other
State or competent international organization has given
any indication. express or implied, that the Contadora pro-
cess is a soecial ~rocedure within the meanine of Article II . 342
2. The ~oniadora'~rocess cannot have the efkct of waiving
recourse to other procedures. as required by Article IV of
the Pact. hecause ii has never been envisaeed-as an exclusive
means 10scttle disputes among Central ~merican countries . 343
3. The Cont:idora process cannot be a spccial procedure within
the rncanine of Article II bccausc its subiect-matter is dis-
tinct froni Ïhe dispute before the Court : ...... 345
4. To require that the Contadora process has concluded be-
fore permitting Nicaragua ta invoke the jurisdiction of the
Court would no1serve the purpose of the exhaustion require-
ment of Article IV .............. 347PART II1 ......................
Chapter 5. The mcaning and application of the reservation of I-lon-
duras concerning arrnïd conflicts ..........
A. General ...................
B. Admissibility of the reservation ...........
C. Failure to dischargc thc burden of proof. .......
D. The application of the "armed conflicis" reservalion in the
light of the conduct of the parties ..........
E. The criteria relevant to the determination of an armcd conflict
or acts of similar natiirc.............
(a) The concept of an armcd conflict .........
(b) There mus1bc a use of armed force wliich is persisicnt . .
(cl The use of arnied force should have a markcd intensity . .
(d) The "armed conflict" mus1be the suhjcct of ;I notification
to the Sccurity Council in accordance with Chaptcr VI1 of
the United Nations Charter ...........
(e) The "armed conflici" must be the subject of a request by
one of the States concerned for help in the exercise of col-
lective self-defence ..............
(f Tlhere must he a recognition of belligerency and of
the application of the laws of neutrality vis-à-vis a third
State ...................
(g) The continued cnistencc of a pattern of normal diplo-
matic and econoniic relations creates a strong prcsumption
against the existence of an "armed conflict" hctwccn the
States concerned ...............
(11)The attitudc of third States in recognizing thc absence of
an armed conflicr ..............
F. The application of the critcria in the present case.....
G. The reservation does no1 possess an exclusively preliminary
character. ..................
H. Suhmissions relating to the "armcd conflicts" reservation and
"prclirninary objection" of Honduras .........
PARTIV. THE ADMISSIBII.1TY OF TtlE APPLICATION
Chapter 6. Nicaragua's application is fullydmissiblc and justiciable.
A. Thc application is ncither vague nor incomplete .....
B. Nicaragua's Application is a fully justiciable lcgal disput. .
Arineres Io [lie Coirrrrer-Merrrorialof Nicnrngiia
Anrrrr I. Bicfiun<tryof Internationnl ReI<rtionsTert~rs.United S1;ites
Departnient of State I.ibr;iry, 1987 ...........
Ari~~ex2. '.Contra Prescncc in Honduras". New York Tinie 1s.April
1986 .....................
Anr1e.r3. Interview iind ncws conference given by Prcsident José
Azconii, Tegucigalpa Cadciia Audio Video and Radio Amïrica,
10 December 1986,printed in FBIS. 11 Deceniber 1986. ...Annex 4. "President Says He Hasn't Expelled Contras". United
Press International. 11 December 1986..........
Anner 5. "Interview with President José Azcona", Tegucigalpa
Voz de Honduras, 22 April 1987,printed in FRIS, 28 April 1987
Annex 6. "Honduran Congress Leader Says Nicaragua Rebels
Should Go". Reuters North Eurovean Service. 2 March 1986 . .
Annex 7.Article quoting Honduran Foreign Minister L6pez Contre-
ras, El Tiempo, 24 November 1986 ..........
Annex 8 Letter from AHPROCAFE to United States Coneress-
men, 12 January 1987. ............... -
Annex !?. United States Economic and Military Aid 10Honduras
1977-1986,from Banana Cases 10 Contra Bases: A Chronology of
United States-Honduran Relations, January 1977 to July 1986,
Central American Historical lnstitute (Washington. D.C., 1986);
and "US Said to Link Latin Aid Support for Contras",New York
Tirnes,18 May 1987 ................
Annex 10. "Former Army Chief Says CIA Bribed Honduran Politi-
cians", Associated Press, 1April 1987..........
Annex II. "Ousted Chief of Honduran Military was Hired as US
Defcnse Consult;intn,Washir~gronPosr, 10 May 1987. ....
Annex 12. Guasaule Declaration. Joint CommuniquC issued by His
Excellency the President of the Republic of Honduras General
Policarpo Paz Garcia, and the Coordinator of the National Re-
construction Governing Junta of Nicaragua, Commander of the
Revolution Daniel Ortega Saavedra, as a result of their meeting
on 13 Mav 1981 at the frontier station of El Guasaule. Nica-
ragua .....................
Annex 13. Examples of Nicaraguan Proposals to Honduras ...
Annex 14. Communication from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of
the Contadora Ciroup addressed to the five ~entGl American
Heads of State, 7 Seplember 1984 ...........
Annex 15. Nicaraguan acceptance of Contadora, 22 September
1984 .....................
Annex 16
A: "Document Describes How US 'Blocked'a Contadora Treaty",
Washington Posf, 6 November 1984 .........
B: "Background Paper for NSC Meeting on Central America",
30 October 1984 ................
Annex 17. Letter from Foreign Ministers of Contadora countries to
Foreign Ministers of Central American countries, 6 June 1986..
Annex 18. Nicaraguan response to Contadora. 17June 1986 ...
Anna 19. Response of Honduras to Contadora, 13June 1986. ..
Annex 20. Letter of Honduran Foreign Minister Contreras....
Annex 21. "Flight Crew Log Trip and Expense Record. obtained by
Government of Nicaragua from C-123 plane that was shot down
over Nicaragua on 5 October 1986 and whose crew included
Eugene Hasenfus .................
AIIII~X22. Note from the Government of Nicaragua to the Organi-
zation of American States concerning Honduras's "New Declara-
lion" of 26 May 1986 ................ 'TABLEDES MATIERES- CONTENTS xix
Annex 23. Opinion of the Inter-An~erican Juridical Committee on
the American Treaty on Pacific Settlement (Pact of Bogoti), Or-
ganization of American States do~. OEA1Ser.G. CPldoc. 1603185,
3 September 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opinion of the Intcr-American Juridical Committce on the Ame-
rican Trcaly on Pacific Settlement (Pact of BogotA) . . . .
Explanation of the vote of Dr. Manuel A. Vieira . . . . . .
Explanation of the vote of Dr. Luis Herrera Marcano. . . . .
Explanation of the vote of Dr. Roberto MacLean Ugarteche . .
Report of the Rapporteur . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annex 24. Act of Contadora for Peace and Co-operation in Central
America (revised version) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part 1. Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1.General commitments . . . . . . . . . .
Sole Section. Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter II. Commitments on political malters . . . . . .
Section 1.Commitments in rïgard to regional détente and
building of confidence. . . . . . . ,. . . . : .
Section 2. Commitments in regard to national reconcilia-
tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 3. Commitments in regard to human rights . . .
Section 4. Commitments in regard to electoral processes
and legislative co-operation. . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter III. Commitinents on security matters. . . . . .
Section 1. Commitments in regard to military manŒuvres .
Section 2. Commitments in regard to weapons . . . .
Section 3. Commitments in regard to foreign military bases
Scction 4. Commitments in regard to foreign military advisers
Section 5. Commitments in regard to arms tf?ffic . . . .
Section 6. Commitments in regard to prohibition of support
to irregular forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 7. Commitments in regard to terrorism, subversion
or sabotage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 8. Commitments in regard to direct communication
systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter IV. Commitments on economic and social matters .
Scction 1. Commitments in the economic and social area .
Section 2. Commitinents in regard to refugees . . . . .
Part II. Commitments in regard to execution and follow-up . .
1, Ad floc Committee for Evaluation of and Follow-up on Com-
mitmcnts on Political Matters and in regard Io Refugees .
2. Commission for Verification and Control in Security Matters
3.Ad flocCommittee for Evaluation of and Follow-up on Com-
mitments in the Economic and Social Area . . . . . .
Part Ill. Final provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xx T-ABLE DES MATIÈRES - CONTENTS
Poge
Appendix ................... 495
Additional Proti~col to the Act of Contadora for Peace and Co-
operation in Central America ............ 499
Annex 25. Note from Honduras to the United Nations, 18 April
1984. ..................... 501
Atinex 26. "The Situation inCentral America", Notc by the Secre-
tary-General, Unitcd Nations doc. Si16041, IXOctober 1983 . . 504
Annex 27 United Nations General Assembly resolulion 38110,
adopted Il Novemher 1983 .............. 506
Ar1ne.r28. United Nations Security Council resolution 530 (1983).
adopted 19 May 1983 ................ 509
Demande en indication de mesures conserva~~ ~ ~ ~ ~sent- -nar le
<;ouscrnerneni du Nicuragu>i- Hcque*t for the Indirt<lit,nof Prori.
\iunal hleawreç Siil>miltedII) the Cuiernrnent Sicarsgiia ... 51I
ATTACHMENTS TO THE REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVI-
SIONAL MEASURES
Letter of 18 March 1988 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Nicaragua io the Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras . . 515
Letter of 19 March 1988 from the Ministcr of Foreign Affairs of
Nicaragua lo the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Honduras ... 516
Lctter of 19 Marcli 1988 from the Minister of Furcign Affairs of
Nicaragua to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Honduras ... 517
President Daniel Ortega's message to the Nicaraguan people. 19March
1988. ..................... 518
I.I:TTERkKC)\t Illl.~~~EXl'O~~l('~\R.4(~lj~\'lIlIlRk.(;l<rn,\nOF 1111:
~Vll:KSrVl'lllS,\LC0li~I(Il.IUSrl<E ?!<III-YIVCTHE \VI'I'IIVK,\WAI
BY THE GOVERNMENT OF NICARAGUA OF ITS REQUEST FOR THE
INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL MEASURES ......... 521REQUÊTE INTRODUCTIVE D'INSTANCE
PRÉSENTÉE PAR LE GOUVERNEMENT
DU NICARAGUA
APPLICATIONINSTITUTING
PROCEEDINGS SUBMITTEDBY THE
GOVERNMENTOFNICARAGUAMINISTERIO DEI. EXTERIOR,
MANAGUA,
NICARAGUA.
25 July 1986.
To the Reeistrar of the International Court of Justice. the undersianed
being duly auihorized by the Republic of Nicaragua and being the ~mbàssa-
dor of the Republic of Nicaragua accredited at The Hague:
I h:ivc ihe Iionuur10rcfcr 181ihc provisiuiii uf ArIicIc XXXI utthr.11:8c>I
Ho-oli and 10 the I>c~l.trni~onsni;ide hy the Republic i)fNic:~rigun ancl hv
the Kciluhlis <if Il,oiidur;is rc~ocilivel~. ;icceniine ihe iuri~dictii~f the
Court as provided for in ~rticlé 36, pa;agraphs 1 and 2,'respectively of the
Statute of the International Court of Justice and, by virtue of the consent to
the jurisdiclion based upon those instruments, either jointly or separately, to
submit. in accordance with Article 40 of the Statute and Article 38 of the
Rules of Court, an Application instituting proceedings in the name of the
Republic of Nicaragua aeainst the Republic of Honduras on the following
1. STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. The Somoza Réeime was overthrown bv revolutionarv forces in Julv
1979.2nd n ncu Gi>vernnisiii was inst:illcdin Nic;iragua
?. Memhers 01 thc mili1;iry;ind parnmilitilr) hircci of the ~lepu\erlpivcrn.
ment fled to neiehbourina c-ountri-es.Manv of these ex-national euardsmen
sought refuge in kondurasfrom whcncc théylaunched armed attacks against
the territory of Nicaragua.
3. At first, these armed attacks consisted of sporadic forays into Nicara-
guan territory with the object of rustling cattle and pillaging peasant commu-
nities.
4. In the course of 1980,the attacks became more frequent and acquired a
more political and military objective. Government installations wcre destroyed
and military patrols ambushed. At the lime Nicaragua was in the midst of a
literacy campaign that involved hundreds of thousands of people, mostly
young students. They became targcts of the armed bands and many were
murdered or kidnapped.
5. All of these activities were reported to the Honduran Government by
means of diplomatic notes immediately.
6. In 1981. the character and the comoosition of the armed bands started
to change.They were better equipped and trained: their organization became
more of a military nature and the size of the armed bands increased. It was
hecoming apparent to the Nicaraguan Government that they could not
operate with such freedom without the complicity or at least the indifference
of the Honduran authorities.
7. On April 19, 1981,Nicaraguan border patrols captured two members of
the Honduran armed forces inside Nicaraguan territory. They confessed that
the purpose of their mission was 10 gather intelligence information to be used
by the armed bands attacking Nicaragua.4 BORDER AND TRANSBORDER ARMED ACTIONS
6. These activities were the ohject of strong protest notes by the Nicara-
guan Government to the Honduran authorities.
9. On May 13, 1981, the Head of Statc of Nicaragua mct with the Presi-
dent of Honduras in the border ~ost of El Guasaule. At that meeting the
Il.>nJur;iii:~iitliiiritni:~ilccoiiiiiiitnicitci hclp ,i,<pil12.trincd incuriiwi,
iiii,~hic.ir:~iii.t iii;adchchy ihe \c~iiit~~i>~riiicd hcaiidh:in* hv elci~~ciicd
the ond dur a army.
10. Unfortunately, the commitmcnts made in the mccting of Hcads of
State were ignored hy the Honduran authorities.
II. By the end of 1981 and the beginning of 1982, the armed attacks
incrcased to such an extent in thc Nicaraguan territory bordering Honduras
that much of the civilian population in that area had tu he çvacuaicd.
12. This situation led the Nicaraguan Government to request an urgent
mccting of the Security Council of the Uniied Nations on April 1982.On that
occasion the United States vetoed a resoluiion concerning questions of prin-
ciple.
13. Since 1982to the Drcscnt. thc atiacks from Honduras havc consistcntlv
15,0(10men.
14. Public statemeiits by Honduran authorities at the highcsi lcvcl con-
firm that the co~lrraforces operate with the knowledge and assistance of the
Honduran Government.
15. President José Azcona Hoyos of Honduras stated in a press confe-
rence in April 1986. that the Government of Honduras could wiihdraw the
coiirras from Honduran territory and that thcy had "the capacity of doing it
immediatelv".
16. The ~resident of the Honduran Congress has publicly acknowledged
that the corltras are based on Honduran territory and that this is donc in order
to hack the struggle against thc "Marxist-~eniiists of Nicaragua".
17. Thc contra forccs operate in such an opcn fashion in Honduras and in
such numbers, ihat the ex-Recior of ihc National University ol Honduras.
Dr. Arturo Jorge Reina, has statcd thal in Honduras "therc arc threc armies:
the Honduran. the United States army, and the army of the Nicaraguan
COIII~BS".
18. United States governmcni officials. among them the Secretary of
Delense. have made public siaicmenis to the effect that the coirrrii forces
operate inside Honduras with the Honduran authorities' knowledge and
tolerance.
IL).Aoart from aidine and abettine the contras. the Honduran miliiarv forces
havc diréctly participared in militaTy attacks on Nicaragua and ha& given
vital intelligence and logistical ~u~port tu the contras. Some examplcs of thesc
acts are:
- April 4, 1982: three squadrons of ihe Honduran army froni the military
Company stationed in the border area of .'El Guasaule" in full army uni-
form penetrated Nicaraguan tcrriiory in the area of "La Ceiba". situated
5 kilometres wcst of Somitillo. and proceeded to kidnap 21 pensants from
ihat sector. The peasants were taken 10 the Honduran city of Choluteca.
- lune 5, 1983: in the sector called "El Porvenir". situated 16 kilometres
northeast of Jalapa. Nicaragua. a force of about 600 corrrriis penctrated
Nicaraguan territory with protective cuver fire of cannon and mortar
[rom the Honduran army.Membcrs of the Honduran army look part with APPLICATION 5
the contra force in the incursion into Nicaraguan tcrritory. Twenty Nica-
raguans lost their lives in this operation.
- Octobcr 3, 1983: the Nicaraguan army downed a military airplane that
was transporting mililary supplies to the conrnis in the sector of "Los
Ccdros", 25 kilometres north of the Rio Blanco, inside Nicaragua. The
aircraft was a Douglas DC-3C that had taken off from the airstrip "El
Aguacate", in Czitacamas, Department of Olancho, in Honduras. The air-
craft was piloted by ex-army officers of the Somoza guardia nacional.
Three of them were captured, and confessed the assistance given by the
Honduran army.
- February 3. 1984: four aircraft of the Push and Pull type approached from
Honduran territory and attncked a military unit of the Nicaraguan army
in the sector of Manazanillo. Department of Cliinandega. The airplanes
withdrew after the attack into Honduran tçrritory.
- April 18, 1985: thrcc combat planes of the Honduran airforce attacked
and sank a Nicaraguan coast guard boat 10 miles southwest of Cape
Gracias a Dios in Nicaragua's sovereign and jurisdictional waters. This
attack left one dead and one missing.
- March 14. 1986: three detachments of corilras of approximately 60 men
each. made an incursion in10 Nicaraguan territory in the sector of the
border pass of La Fraternidad. located on the Pan-American highway.
The attack was against the Nicaraguan customs house. The Honduran
army gave support lire to the attack with mortars and rifles.
20. The Honduran Govcrnnicnt has also used the threat of force against
Nic;iragua not cinly in words but also in facts. Sirice 1981 they have con-
structed military airports, naval bases and other militsry infrastructure along
thc border with Nicaragua, and have continuously held manŒuvres with the
United States Arniy with the express object of intimidating Nicaragua.
II. LEGALGROUNDS ON WHICI1 THE CLA~MISBASED
21. On the basis of the abovç statement of facts, Nicaragua claims that
Honduras has incurred leg.zl responsibility for the breach of major obliga-
tions arising under the United Nations Charter and other multilateral trefz-
lies, and also from the hrczich of certain well-estahlished obligations of cus-
tomary internalional law. The particular legal grounds on which Nicaragua
bases ils claims arc as follows.
1. Brencha ofthe Charter of the U,iiie<lNatioils
22. The facts on which Nicaragua relies disclose serious and persistent vio-
lations of the provisions of thelnited Nations Charter. Article 2. paragraph 4.
according to which al1 Membeis of the United Nations shall refrain in their
international relations from the threat or use of force against the terri1ori;il
intcgrity or political independence of any State. The conduct of Honduras (as
described above) involvcs both the use of force and the threat of force. In
particular both the direct attacks by elements of the Honduran armed forces
and the assistance provided tci the somocista armed bands in their attacks on
the territorv of Nicaragua and ils civili. .oooulation constitute the use of force
.ig.iin\t Ilic:zri~guizI.n ;z~l.liiion.ins Cio\ccitlcindur.i\hy inï:ii<ifmili-
t:ir)rnizlicïuvrci ;ind :issociateclacii,,itics in roiilunciion i\.ith thc .irmcJ forces
ol thc IJiiitcJ Stnics Ii:is uscd the thr<ifforcc :is;iinst 3ic:trizgu~.6 BORDER AND TRANSBORDERARMED ACTIONS
2. Breachesr,f the Churrerof rhe Organizalion of American Sfarer
23. The acts of Honduras (as described above) constitute serious and
persistent violations of the provisions of Article 18 of the Charter of the
Ore-nization of American States. accordine to-which Honduras is under the
obligation not to intervene directly or indireçtly for any reason whatsoever
in the infernal or external affairs of Nicaragua, whether by armed force or
b. .nv othcr form of interferencc or altemoïid threat again-t the orrsonality
<ifSis:~r;agi~<II .igiiistII>~OIIIIC~ cI~in<imicor sultur;il clcni~ni~
24. The ai!1-l,indiir:ii;ilin\ail\c,crir>usnnJ p~.r\i\tcnl \i<,l;itionoi
th< nri~i.i\ionsoi r\rti;lc?Iri,fthc Charter of thr. Or~anizstii,n ui 4meric;in
~tatès, according to which the territory of Nicaraguais inviolable and mus1
no1be subjected to military occupation or othcr forcible measures, directly or
indirectly, on any grounds whatever,
3. Breochesof Ihe American Treoryfor rhe Pracefirl Serrlemenr[of Dkpiires]
(PUCI BU~O~~)
25. The acts of Honduras (as described above) constitute further serious
and persistent violations of the provisions of Article 1of the American Treaty
for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes ("Pact of Bogota"), according to
which Honduras is under an obligation to abstain from the threat or use of
force, or any coercion,as a means of settling disputes.
4. Breochesof rhe Obligation of Cusromnrylnlernarional Law Nol ru
lnrervenein the Affairs of Anorher Srare
26. A significant element in the conduct of lionduras in the relevant period
(as described above) has been the Dattern of assistance to and toleration of
the violent actions of armed band; of somocistas operating against Nicara-
gua from bases within Honduras. The conduct of Honduras in this respect
involves serious and oersistent violations of the well-established obligation of
customary internatiokl law not to intervene in the affairs of ~icarcua. The
serious character of the violations is enhanced by the publicly proclaimed
objective of the contras and their supporters in Honduras to overihrow the
Governmenl of Nicaragua.
5. Breachesof rhe Obligation of C~rsromaryInler~~alionalLaw Nor Io Use
Force oguinslAnolher Srare
27. The nolicv of assistance to the armed bands of somocistas adonted bv
Honduras iAvol;es bre&hes of the obligation of customary internatidna1 la;
not to use forcç aaainst another State: and so also the direct attacks against
Nicaragua by thearmed forces of Honduras constitutc serious breaches of
this same obligation.
6. Breachesof rhe Obligarion of CirstomaryInlerrirrrionalLaw Nor lu
Violore the Sovereignryof Anorher Srare
28. The direct attzicks carricd out against Nicaragua by the armed forces
of Honduras (as descrihed above) constitute breaches of the obligation no1
to violate the sovereignty of another State. Morcovcr, certain attacks have
involved the brutal kidnapping of Nicaraguan citizens hy Honduran armed
forces, as, forexample. during the incursion by Honduran forces on April 4,
1982. APPLICATION 7
7. Breaches of lhe Obligation of Cuslomary lnfernational Law Nol IO Kill,
Worrnd or Kidnap the Citizens of OOtherSlares
29. The conduct of Honduras (as described above) constitutes serious and
persistent breaches of the obligation under customary international law not
to kill, wound or kidnap the citizens of other States.
III. THE NATURE OF THE CLAIM
30. On the basis of the foreeo-ne statemenl of facts and considerations of
law. Niziîr~gu:~.rcservirig tlic rishi10 supplcni~.ittor to ariicnd this Aplilica-
ticln :tnJwhlcct 1.ihr:prc,cnt.iiii>nicithi. Ciiuriof the r~.lvi.;intc\idr.n.in.l
legal argument, requesis the Court to adjudge and declars as follows:
(a) that the acts and omissions of Honduras in the material period coitstitule
breaches of the various obligations of customary international Iaw and
the treaties specified in the body of this Application for which the Repub-
lic of Honduras bears legal responsibility;
(b) that Honduras is under a duty immediately 10 cease and to refrain from
al1 such acts as may constitute breaches of the foregoing legal obliga-
tions;
(c) that Honduras is under an cibligation to make reparation to the Republic
of Nicaragua for al1injury caused to Nicaragua hy the breaches of obliga-
tionsunder the pertinent rules of customary international law and treaty
provisions.
31. Nicaragua reserves the right to present a request that the Court indi-
cale interim measures of prolrction.
32. The Government of Nicaragua has designated the undersigned as ils
Agent for the purposes of these proceedings. All communications relating to
this case should be sent to the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua, The
Hague, Wattstraat 19.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signrd) Carlos ARGÜELLOG6,wEZ,
Agent of the Republic
of Nicaragua.
Application instituting proceedings