Press Release

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that on November 15, 2018, the International Court of Justice notified it of its decision regarding the continuation of the procedure in the Dispute over the Status and Use of the Waters of Silala.

In a meeting with the President of the Court and the Bolivian Agent on October 17th in The Hague, Chile expressed its willingness both to face a new round of written submissions or to move directly to oral arguments.

The Chilean agent in the case, Ximena Fuentes, pointed this out at the time: "Whatever the decision of the Court, whether it signals to the Parties that they should have a second round of written pleadings, or that the case is already in a position to proceed to oral pleadings, or whether it signals to Chile that it is necessary to have a written response to Bolivia's countersuit, any of the scenarios, Chile is prepared to face it, because we know that in any of those scenarios we will be able to present our case".

In addition, should the Court decide in favor of a second round of written submissions, Chile requested short deadlines of no more than three months for each submission.

The decision on the future stages of this case is a matter to be announced by the International Court of Justice.