Court rules on Costa Rica, Nicaragua issue

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 13 (UPI) -- The International Court of Justice Monday gave both Costa Rica and Nicaragua partial victories in their border dispute over the San Juan River.

The world court at The Hague in the Netherlands ruled Costa Rica has commercial navigational rights on the river under the 1858 Treaty between the two Central American countries.

However, the court's ruling posted on its Web site also said Nicaragua has the right to require Costa Rican vessels to check in at Nicaraguan posts at both ends of their route on the river and that passengers be required to carry passports or identification documents.

The court ruled people, including tourists traveling on the San Juan river on Costa Rican vessels, are not required to obtain Nicaraguan visas or buy Nicaraguan tourist cards.

In addition, the court said, local inhabitants on the Costa Rican bank have the right to navigate the river for purposes of "the essential needs of everyday life which require expeditious transportation." Nicaragua is to respect the rights of Costa Ricans living along the river bank to fish for subsistence purposes.

Official Costa Rican vessels can use the river "in specific situations" to provide essential services to its citizens but not to carry out police functions, including transporting personnel between police border posts, the court ruled.

Nicaragua has the right to issue departure clearance certificates to Costa Rican vessels but not to charge for them, the court said.

Nicaragua also can impose timetables for navigation on vessels navigating the river and require Costa Rican vessels to display the Nicaraguan flag if they have masts or turrets.