13 JULY 2009
JUDGMENT
CASE CONCERNING THE DISPUTE REGARDING
NAVIGATIONAL AND RELATED RIGHTS
(COSTA RICA v. NICARAGUA)
___________
AFFAIRE DU DIFFÉREND RELATIF À DES DROITS DE NAVIGATION
ET DES DROITS CONNEXES
(COSTA RICA c. NICARAGUA)
13 JUILLET 2009
ARRÊT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraphs
CHRONOLOGY OF THE PROCEDURE
1-14
I. GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND ORIGIN OF THE
DISPUTE
15-29
II. COSTA RICA’S RIGHT OF FREE NAVIGATION ON THE SAN JUAN RIVER
30-84
1. The legal basis of the right of free navigation
32-41
2. The extent of the right of free navigation attributed to Costa Rica
42-84
(a) The meaning and scope of the expression “libre
navegación . . . con objetos de comercio”
43-71
(i) Preliminary observations
47-49
(ii) The meaning of the phrase “con objetos”
50-56
(iii) The meaning of the word “commerce”
57-71
(b) The activities covered by the right of free navigation
belonging to Costa Rica
72-84
(i) Private navigation
73-79
(ii) “Official vessels”
80-84
III. NICARAGUA’S POWER OF REGULATION OF NAVIGATION
85-133
1. General observations
86-101
(a) Characteristics
87-90
(b) Notification
91-97
(c) The factual context
98-101
2. The legality of the specific Nicaraguan measures challenged by
Costa Rica
102-133
(a) Requirement to stop and identification
103-107
(b) Departure clearance certificates
108-110
(c) Visas and tourist cards
111-119
(d) Charges
120-124
(e) Timetabling
125-129
(f) Flags
130-132
(g) Conclusion
133
IV. SUBSISTENCE FISHING
134-144
V. THE CLAIMS MADE BY THE PARTIES IN THEIR FINAL SUBMISSIONS
145-155
1. The claims of Costa Rica
145-150
2. The claims of Nicaragua
151-155
OPERATIVE CLAUSE
156
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INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
YEAR 2009
2009
13 July
General List
No. 133
13 July 2009
CASE CONCERNING THE DISPUTE REGARDING
NAVIGATIONAL AND RELA