The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague said in its judgment on Monday that the arguments presented by Bolivia referring to bilateral agreements do not create a legal obligation for Chile to negotiate access to the Pacific Ocean.
BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st October, 2018) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague said in its judgment on Monday that the arguments presented by Bolivia referring to bilateral agreements do not create a legal obligation for Chile to negotiate access to the Pacific Ocean.
"The Court concludes that none of the above instruments invoked by Bolivia establishes an obligation on Chile to negotiate Bolivia's sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean," the court said.
The long-standing territorial dispute between Bolivia and Chile about access to the Pacific Ocean dates back to the nineteenth century. Bolivia lost the coast Department of Litoral (now known as the Antofagasta region) in 1884 as a result of the War of the Pacific (also known as the Saltpeter War), in which it was defeated by Chile. Bolivia has sought regaining access to the Pacific Ocean since 2013.
