Colombia dismisses boundary claim

THE HAGUE: Lawyers for Colombia yesterday dismissed Nicaragua’s claims before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), insisting that Bogota did respect a 2012 ruling on their maritime boundaries in the western Caribbean by the same court.

“All of Nicaragua’s claims are unsubstantiated and artificial.

“They are founded on words, not actions,” lawyer Manuel Jose Cepeda said.

On Monday, lawyers for Nicaragua said Colombia had violated a 2012 ruling by the ICJ, also known as the World Court, which drew a demarcation line in favour of Nicaragua in Caribbean waters, reducing the expanse of sea belonging to Colombia.

The two sides will be able to respond to each other’s arguments in hearings planned to run until October 1.