March 19 saw the first day of the round of oral hearings in the case. In this context, the indigenous leader held a press conference during which he called on the Court to “solve the problems between Bolivia and Chile and around the world.”

Meanwhile, the President also indicated that certain groups will try to “belittle” Bolivia’s defense before the Court, “But we are only asking Chile to comply with its provisions.”

The oral hearings are part of a process that has been ongoing at the ICJ for almost five years, after Bolivia filed a lawsuit in 2013, demanding that Chile negotiate the country’s sovereign access to the sea.

Today, Bolivia will continue to present its case. March 21 will see a recess, before Chile presents its arguments on the 22nd and 23rd, as Prensa Latina reported.

Bolivia lost its access to the sea after the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), a conflict involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, which resulted in Chilean annexation of valuable disputed territory on the Pacific coast.

(Granma)

Guillermo García Montero, president of the organizing committee, told reportersthat the eventwill include foursymposiumsdedicated tohighly topical issues, such as humanimpactsandrisk management, climate change, conservation and biodiversity,and biotechnologyandfood security.

More specifically, topics relating to coastal engineering, marine protected areas, ocean observing systems and ocean influence on climate, coral reefs, mangroves, biology and ecology of species, potentialities of marine flora and fauna for drug development, marine mammals, fisheries, environmental education and aquariology, will also be addressed.

Organized by the National Oceanographic Committee, the National Aquarium of Cuba, the Center for Engineering and Environmental Management of Bays and Coasts, the Institute of Oceanology, the Fisheries Research Centre and other institutions, the event will include an exhibition fair, dedicated to disseminating the scientific results, products and marine and coastal services of various Cuban bodies in the sector.

The United States will provide the largest number of representatives (103), including three directors of prestigious marine sciences centers, followed by Mexico and Chile.

The opening ceremony will see the awarding of the National Marine Sciences Prize, established in 2006 to recognize the lifetime achievements of those who have made significant contributions in this area.

(Granma)