20 Apr 2010

HAGUE / URUGUAY-ARGENTINA DISPUTE

The International Court of Justice issues a final ruling that a paper mill on the Uruguayan bank of the Uruguay River, which runs along the borders of Argentina and Uruguay, will continue to operate. The construction of the mill has been the cause of a long running dispute between the two South American countries. ICJ

Posted at: April 20, 2010 3:32 pm

Duration: 01:00

Available in: SD

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STORY: HAGUE / URUGUAY-ARGENTINA DISPUTE 
SOURCE: ICJ
TRT: 1.00
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 APRIL 2010, THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Court in session
2. Wide shot, delegates and audience
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Tomka, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice:
"The Court, one, by thirteen votes to one, finds that the Eastern Republic of Uruguay has breached its procedural obligations under articles 7 to 12 of the 1975 statute of the River Uruguay and that the declaration of the Court of this breach constitutes appropriate satisfaction."
4. Med shot, delegation of Argentina
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Tomka, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice:
"By eleven votes to three finds that the Eastern Republic of Uruguay has nor breached its substantive obligations under articles 35, 36 and 41 of the 1975 statute of the River Uruguay."
6. Med shot, delegation of Uruguay
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Tomka, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice:
"Unanimously rejects all other submissions by the parties."
8. Wide shot, Court in session

STORYLINE:

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial organ of the United Nations, today (20 April) delivered its Judgment in the case concerning Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay. The Court ruled that a contentious mill in the Uruguayan bank of the river can continue to operate.

The Judgment is final, without appeal and binding on the Parties.

The Court found by 13 votes to one, that the government of Uruguay had breached its procedural obligations under the 1975 Statute of the River Uruguay when it failed to properly notify its Argentinean counterparts of the construction of the mill.

SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Tomka, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice:
"The Court, one, by thirteen votes to one, finds that the Eastern Republic of Uruguay has breached its procedural obligations under articles 7 to 12 of the 1975 statute of the River Uruguay and that the declaration of the Court of this breach constitutes appropriate satisfaction."

Nevertheless, the Court also found by 11 votes to three, that Uruguay had not breached other substantive obligations under the Statute, allowing the mill to continue in operation.

SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Tomka, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice:
"By eleven votes to three finds that the Eastern Republic of Uruguay has nor breached its substantive obligations under articles 35, 36 and 41 of the 1975 statute of the River Uruguay."

The Court also rejected other allegations by the Argentinean side, including claims of noise and visual pollution, and those concerning "bad odors" produced by the mill.

The pulp mill, built by the Finnish company Botnia, has tainted relations between these two traditional allies. Protesters in Gualeguaychú, on the Argentinean side of the river have blocked an international bridge cutting off trade and transit for over three years.