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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Colombia is arguing that the United Nations' highest court has no jurisdiction to wade back into a drawn-out dispute over a Caribbean archipelago.
In 2012, the International Court of Justice affirmed Colombian sovereignty over the archipelago but ruled that some waters around the islands belong to Nicaragua, a decision that sparked anger in Colombia.
A year later, Nicaragua filed a complaint at the court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, accusing Colombia of breaching "its obligation not to violate Nicaragua's maritime zones" as set out in the court's 2012 ruling.
Lawyers for Colombia argued Monday that there is no legal basis for the court to hear Nicaragua's complaint.
The court will likely take weeks to decide whether or not to take on Nicaragua's case.
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