The Government of Venezuela congratulated Nicaragua on Saturday for the recent resolution of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), an organization that determined last Thursday that Colombia violated Nicaragua’s “sovereignty and jurisdiction” in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“On behalf of President Nicolás Maduro and the people of Venezuela, we congratulate the Nicaraguan people for the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ratifies the full enjoyment of its Caribbean maritime territory and exclusive economic zone”Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia wrote on his Twitter account.
In a final and binding ruling, the UN tribunal ruled on what it has deemed a Violation of “the rights of sovereignty and jurisdiction” of Nicaragua in its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and demanded that Colombia “immediately cease its conduct” in that zone.
The ICJ saw this violation in Colombia’s authorization of fishing activities by Colombian vessels in Nicaraguan waters, and in its “interference with marine and fisheries scientific research activities of vessels with a Nicaraguan flag or license and with the operations of naval vessels” in Nicaraguan waters.
About, Plasencia indicated that it is a “triumph” in which the rights of a nation are recognized that promotes respectful relationships.
“A victory that recognizes the sovereignty and rights of a nation that does not surrender, that fights to defend its ideals and for the consolidation of an order that promotes relationships of respect and that contributes to promoting peace, unity and understanding” said the Venezuelan official.
This decision of the ICJ was celebrated by the Government of Daniel Ortega, who indicated, in a statement, that it is a “firm, final and mandatory judgment in which he agrees with Nicaragua by confirming that Colombia implemented a State policy that has violated the jurisdiction and sovereign rights of Nicaragua.”
For his part, the president of Colombia, Iván Duque, assured that his government will not allow Nicaragua to limit the rights of his country in the Caribbean Sea, nor those of the Raizal community of the archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia.