La Paz, May 6 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Legal representatives on behalf of the Bolivian government presented their arguments on Wednesday before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, calling on the Chilean government to negotiate Bolivia’s claim of sovereign access to the sea.
"Our country became landlocked, an enclave on the South American continent, with serious consequences for our economic and social growth and for our international integration,” Bolivian legal adviser Rodríguez Veltzé argued.
Chile argued on Monday that Bolivia's case at the ICJ Is an attempt by Bolivia to renegotiate the 1904 treaty, which left Bolivia without access to the sea. Bolivia’s legal team refuted these claims on Wednesday, saying that the petition before the ICJ is independent of the 1904 treaty.
During the legal arguments, Veltze emphasized that Chile “has repeatedly stated that it will negotiate independently of the 1904 treaty and has recognized that the denial of sovereign access, continues to be an injustice against Bolivia, which undermines its development and hinders the development of friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.”
On Wednesday, Bolivian President Evo Morales addressed the case stating “I am very proud of our legal delegation, who I think made excellent opening arguments.” The Bolivian leader expressed his full confidence in the ICJ's ability to reach a just and fair ruling.
