NETHERLANDS/WORLD COURT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000201190006-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 11, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000201190006-1
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
11 May 19 84
NETHERLANDS/ JENNINGS: The court has ruled that the United States
WORLD COURT should stop mining the harbors of Nicaragua, and there was
more. Here's ABC's Al Dale.
DALE: It was a unanimous ruling. The 15 judges,
including one from the United States, told the U.S. to
stop mining Nicaraguan harbors. The decision read by
aging Chief Judge Taslem Elias of Nigeria says, quote,
'The United States of America should immediately cease and
refrain from any action restricting, blocking or
endangering access to or from Nicaraguan ports and in
particular the laying of mines.' The court also flatly
rejected a U.S. request that the case be thrown out-on a
technicality and because in the U.S. view the court has no
jurisdiction. Today's decision amounts to an order, but
the court has no enforcement powers. Nicaragua charges
the U.S. has been violating international law, depriving
Nicaraguans of, quote, 'life, liberty and security by
supporting invasion and sabotage. Just before the case
was filed, the U.S. notified the World Court that it would
not recognize court decisions on Central America for the
next two years. U.S. representatives here said they only
showed up at the Hague out of respect for the court..
Nevertheless, Nicaragua's chief legal representative to
the court called today's ruling a moral and legal victory.
UNIDENTIFIED NICARAGUAN?CHIEF LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE: When
law is respected, it tends to conduce to peace. So we
feel that this will bring or help to bring peace in the
area.
DALE: The chief U.S. lawyer here declined comment until
the decision could be studied. The court invited both
parties to submit further arguments on the question of
jurisdiction. Lack of a clear answer on that did not
prevent the court today from awarding round one to
Nicaragua. Al Dale, ABC News, the Hague.
NETHERLANDS/ DUNSMORE: This is Barrie Dunsmore in Washington. A month
WORLD COURT 6Z- ago, the Reagan administration seemed to be telling the
World Court to mind its own business and stay out of
Central American affairs. However, in reaction to today's
court findings, the State Department took the high road.
JOHN\HUGHES (State Department spokesman): The United
States respects the court and the rule of law and intends
to act accordingly.
DUNSMORE: The U.S. still argues that the World Court does
not have jurisdiction in Central America. This remains
unresolved. However, U.S. officials said today that if
the court rules against the U.S. on the jurisdiction
issue, then Washington will abide by its rulings. As for
today's preliminary court statement, the U.S. takes the
view that it does not affect U.S. policy toward Nicaragua.
HUGHES: Nothing contained in the measures indicated byr.,^1
Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000201190006-1
 Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000201190006-1
the court is inconsistent with current United States
policy or activities, with respect to Nicaragua.
DUNSMORE: The key word there is current. The U.S. was
behind the mining of Nicaraguan ports, an operation
Richard Nixon yesterday called 'Mickey Mouse.' However,
that has already been stopped. As to continued support
for the contras, the U.S. claims that is a legal action,
in view of Nicaragua's policy of trying to overthrow the
government of El Salvador. And so the U.S. has decided to
approach the World Court differently, as least from a
public relations point of view. But it does not appear
there is any intention of allowing World Court decisions
to significantly change U.S. policy toward Nicaragua.
Barrie Dunsmore, ABC News, the State Department..
NETHERLANDS/ COLLINS: This is Peter Collins in Nicaragua. Foreign
WORLD COURT (9 Minister Miguel D'Escoto lost no time in hailing what he
called Nicaragua's victory in the World court.
MIGUEL\D'ESCOTO (Nicaraguan Foreign Minister): For the
United States to tell the court that it is not supposed to
consider any case of Central America, this is really, is
the, the summit of all arrogance.
COLLINS: As for President Reagan's speech last night,
D'Escoto dismissed it by comparing it to a 1960s movie
comedy. D'ESCOTO: What we heard last night from the
president of the United States was nothing more and
nothing less than a very hysterical appeal, ah, to the
people of the United States, that the Russians were
coming.
COLLINS: Behind the rhetoric is a very real fear here of
rising tensions on both of Nicaragua's borders. At a
point near the border with Honduras, Sandinista gunners
earlier this week shot down an American-made helicopter
belonging to the Honduran air force. Honduras is not
threatening to break relations with Nicaragua over the
incident. And to the South, fighting between the
Sandinistas and CIA-backed rebel Eden Pastora may spill
over into Costa Rica. With all this going on, the
Sandinistas are clearly delighted the World Court has
handed them what they consider a major victory in the
battle for public opinion in the United States. The
Sandinistas know perfectly well the World Court has no
power to stop the United States.. But they believe they've
reminded the U.S. that a court that prides itself on the
rule of law must live within the law. Peter Collins, ABC
News, Managua, Nicaragua.
JENNINGS: Later in this broadcast, President Reagan wins
a round on aid for El Salvador. The federal government
must pay for diseases caused by its own nuclear testing.
And in Chicago, they played ball for more than eight
hours.
Approved For Release 2008/12/10: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000201190006-1