Organization of American States
www.oas.org  

                                                                            (E-249/01)

December 19, 2001

 HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA SIGN ACCORDS

             The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Honduras, Roberto Flores Bermúdez, and Nicaragua, Francisco Aguirre Sacasa, today established the framework for a Binational Border Development Plan, in recognition of the "new phase in the relationship between the two countries." 

            The Binational Plan will encourage education, social and productive development, environmental conservation, and the economic integration of the border area. The agreement was signed at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS). Also presented at the ceremony was the final report of the OAS International Verification Mission to Honduras and Nicaragua. 

"This civilian mission has fostered a greater level of confidence and understanding between these two neighboring countries, which decided to settle their differences by peaceful means and which now seek to strengthen their relationship as neighbors," said the Secretary General of the OAS, César Gaviria. 

In addition to the Binational Plan, the foreign ministers signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation among their countries’ police forces in the border area and to promote notification of any military maneuver, deployment, or movement in the vicinity. 

In the OAS framework, Honduras and Nicaragua have negotiated confidence-building measures such as these in the past two years to keep the peace while their territorial dispute is being settled.  Their case is being heard by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.  

The International Verification Mission made three visits to borders areas in the past six months, by both land and sea. This effort, directed by the OAS Assistant Secretary General, Luigi Einaudi, was funded by the OAS Fund for Peace.  Contributions of financial, material, and human resources were given by Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, and the United States.  

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Documents in Spanish version only:   

Informe Técnico de la Misión de Verificación Internacional de la OEA para Honduras y Nicaragua

 
Acuerdo sobre cooperación y desarrollo fronterizo entre Honduras y Nicaragua

 

Acuerdo sobre cooperación policial y sobre notificaciones de movimientos militares en la frontera entre Honduras y Nicaragua

Palabras del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos durante la presentación del informe final de la OEA en la controversia fronteriza entre Honduras y Nicaragua

 

 

 

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