Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos delivered a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday to express his discontent with Nicaragua over an ongoing maritime dispute.
Within the first day of the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations, President Santos delivered a letter signed by Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica expressing discontent surrounding their ‘expansionist pretenses’ concerning a maritime dispute concerning borders about 100 miles north of Cartagena according to local media.
Last November, in the waters surrounding Colombian-owned island, San Andres, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) determined that the islands would be Colombia’s property, however Nicaragua would be the beneficiary of shifting new maritime borders which would in effect double Nicaragua’s economic zone in the Caribbean Sea. The waters are also valuable due to the prospect of oil in the area.
MORE: Nicaragua grants concession for oil and gas exploration in Colombia’s former territory
Despite Nicaraguan lawsuits filed against the country, Colombia has contested the ICJ’s rulings, and appealed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday with this letter.
MORE: Colombia challenges ICJ’s authority in Caribbean water dispute with Nicaragua
MORE: Nicaragua files new lawsuit against Colombia to define maritime border
Panama and Costa Rica also signed this letter as they have been affected by the decisions made by Nicaragua. President Santos hand delivered the letter accompanied by members of his personal cabinet during a meeting with the Secretary General.
Santos also met with newspapers on Monday to discuss ongoing peace talks with the rebel group, FARC.