Costa Rica, Nicaragua Closer on Border Issues
The governments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua expressed their willingness Saturday to talk on the bordering dispute of the San Juan River.

The dispute is before the International Court in the Hague, Costa Rica claiming navigational rights granted to it  under the Cañas-Jerez Treaty dated from 1858.

Nicaragua revoked Costa Rica's navigational rights of the river in 2001 by Nicaraguan president, Arnoldo Aleman (1997-2002).

The willingness was expressed Friday by Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and his Nicaraguan counterpart Samuel Santos, after opening a consulate in the city of Rivas, 110 kilometres south of Managua, less than one half hour from the Costa Rican border.

According to Nicaragua, the agreement only allows the neighboring country use San Juan River with trade purposes and not Costa Rica's use of armed police patrols.

Stagno stated Friday that the international demand is not an obstacle so that both governments can talk about the river.