AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Nicaragua and Costa Rica welcome the Pope's call for better ties

Tuesday, 22 December 2015 politics   area crisis   holy see  

Wire reports rich clabaugh/staff

Managua (Agenzia Fides) – During the Angelus on Sunday, December 20, the Holy Father expressed his support to the efforts of collaboration between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, hoping that "a renewed spirit of fraternity will further strengthen the dialogue and mutual cooperation, between the two countries and throughout the whole region".The Pope’s words referred to the judgment of the International Court of Justice (Corte Internacional de Justicia) which recognized the sovereignty of Costa Rica on the river island of Portillos (or Calero), in the Caribbean coast. Nicaragua must therefore compensate Costa Rica for "material damage caused by illegal activities in the territory of Costa Rica". Moreover Nicaragua violated the territory of Costa Rica with a military presence, and its navigation rights on San Juan River.
"The Holy Father also said that Nicaragua and Costa Rica have to strive for reciprocal cooperation ", said the Coordinator of Government Communications, Rosario Murillo. "In this sense we reiterate that since the judgement of the International Court of Justice, our government issued a statement, which in the last two paragraphs refers specifically to the efforts of Nicaragua in this direction".
"The Government of Nicaragua believes that this decision is a mandate to close this chapter, as the Court has determined and decided. Nicaragua and Costa Rica must now prepare to restore dialogue and live together which allow us to ensure respect, tranquility and peace", said Murillo. "We want to tell the Holy Father that we are fully available, to help to ensure compliance, tranquility and peace", concluded the Coordinator of Communications. The government of Costa Rica issued a statement to thank the Holy Father for his message and call to regional cooperation. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2015)


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