President Boric on the ruling confirming that the Silala is an international river: “The decision is categorical. Chile went to court for legal certainty and got it”
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has established that Chile has the right to equitable and reasonable use of the watercourse, and that there is no obligation to compensate the Bolivian State.
Chile’s President, Gabriel Boric, has responded to the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague regarding the status and use of the waters of the Silala River. He stressed that the decision made by the court was positive for our country, as it finally endorses Chile’s claim that the watercourse is international.
The President explained from La Moneda Palace that the ruling gives us legal certainty and confirms that both Chile and Bolivia have rights and obligations over the river that crosses the Antofagasta Region. He was accompanied by Senate President Álvaro Elizalde; President of the Chamber of Deputies, Vlado Mirosevic; acting President of the Supreme Court, Sergio Muñoz; and Foreign Affairs Minister Antonia Urrejola; as well as members of the Foreign Relations Commissions of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
“The ruling given today by the International Court of Justice in The Hague has been categorical. Chile went to court for legal certainty and got it. Firstly, it has been confirmed that the Silala River is an international watercourse, the use of which is governed by customary international law in its entirety,” he stated.
President Boric also pointed out that the ruling clears up any doubts about possible new disputes, and establishes equitable and reasonable use for both States.
“Secondly, and this is important, it recognizes that Chile’s historical and current use of the waters of the Silala River is in accordance with the equitable and reasonable use established by international law,” the President explained.
Another point that the ruling clarifies is that Chile has no obligation to compensate the Bolivian State for use of the watercourse: “It establishes that Chile does not owe any compensation to the Plurinational State of Bolivia for the use it has made of the waters of the Silala River. This is important, because once again Chile obtains legal certainty regarding an issue that Bolivia initially disputed.”
“It seems important for future relations to confirm that there is a duty to cooperate on the use of water in the event of possible significant damage, which is important to Chile for future use and any activities that are carried out with respect to the Silala that eventually entail risk in the future,” he stated.
Lastly, the President called for both countries to continue working together, and further deepen the ties that currently exists between the two.
“The will of our country from now on is to continue working with our sister Republic of Bolivia, having resolved this matter, in a spirit of good neighborliness, collaboration and integration on all issues that require cooperation between both States. We must deepen our ties, continuing the work that began during the previous government of President Piñera, known as the 12 Point Agenda. During our time in office, we have been making progress and rapprochement with the government of President Luis Arce,” President Boric concluded.