Bolivia requested, this Wednesday, the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ) to declare the sovereign right of the country over the waters of the Silala River, this during the closing of its arguments in the framework of the trial between Chile and Bolivia for the status and uses of them.
Within the framework of the penultimate day of oral arguments before the ICJ, the Bolivian agent, Roberto Calzadilla, requested that the side of the Silala that is in Bolivian territory be declared as part of the country’s law.
Since this would mean the recognition of the Bolivian right to decide in a sovereign way when and how to carry out maintenance tasks. Also, Calzadilla asked the Court to declare Bolivia’s sovereignty over the “artificial flow” of the Silala waters in its territory, and that “Chile does not have acquired rights” over that flow of water.
In addition, the Bolivian diplomat argued that any demand from Chile regarding access to the waters of the Silala River, as well as the conditions and compensation, “are subject to the conclusion of an agreement with Bolivia.”
Finally, this Thursday, the ICJ judges will hear Chile’s reply in the dispute, at the closing of the cycle of oral arguments.
