Hague Rules 'Favorably' for Nicaragua in Costa Rica Environmental Dispute

Nicaraguan protesters stake their claim to Isla Portillos, a restricted swath of land near Costa Rica and Nicaragua's border, as a team of Costa Rican environment experts and representatives of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands inspect the area for environmental damage April 5, 2011.

Published 2 February 2018

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The court ordered a US$378,890 payment, significantly lower than the US$6.7 million sought by Costa Rica.

Nicaragua's Sandinista government has hailed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the maritime delimitation between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean as 'favorable,' after the Hague ordered Nicaragua to pay US$378,890 to Costa Rica as environmental reparations for damage caused by Nicaraguan soldiers between 2010 and 2013.

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Initially, Costa Rica had demanded compensation of US$6.1 million, which included the salaries of public servants who worked in the area and the cost of equipment maintenance. These were not accepted by the court.

Nicaraguan soldiers had built a camp in the Portillos Island, cut down approximately 300 ancient trees and dredged channel near a river during their occupancy of the island. The Court’s presiding judge, Abdulqawi Yusuf, said Costa Rica should be compensated for the damage caused, the cost of environmental restoration, expenses, and interest by April 2.

Three representatives of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands look for environmental damage on Isla Portillos, a 16-square-km swath of Caribbean wetland at the center of a dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua April 5, 2011. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo

In a December 2015 ruling, the Court had determined Nicaragua had violated Costa Rica's’ sovereignty by establishing the military camp. However, they still had to calculate the amount, which should be paid in damages.

The ruling from the court was made on Friday morning with the court due to rule on a maritime border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica and the territorial border north of the Portillos Island on Friday afternoon.

The dispute over the borderline between the two Central American nations dates back to 1858 when they attempted to map out their territory after gaining their independence from Spain and Mexico.

Costa Rica's ambassador in the Netherlands, Sergio Ugalde (R), moments before the Court read its decision. | Photo: EFE

Nicaragua’s representative before the court, Carlos Arguello, said it was “a pity” the two countries could not reach an agreement, reiterating Nicaragua’s president's willingness to compensate Costa Rica, but not for the requested amount.

Arguello also pointed out the costs of the trial exceeds the amount determined by the court as reparations.

However, Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez claims that the amount granted by the court is higher than what Nicaragua had offered as payment.