Argentina accuses Uruguay of int’l law breach

Argentina argued Monday at the U.N.’s highest court that Uruguay “flagrantly breached” international law by authorizing the construction of two pulp mills on the river that separates the two countries.

One of the mills has already been built and Argentina’s chief representative at the International Court of Justice, Susana Ruiz Cerutti, called it “a bad mill in a bad place.”

She told judges the mill that turns eucalyptus trees into pulp, the base ingredient for paper, already is pumping pollution into the waters of the River Uruguay and releasing foul-smelling gas into the air close to an Argentine tourist town.

The dispute has strained historically amicable relations between the South American neighbors and led to blockades by Argentine protesters of key bridges over the river.

Cerutti told judges at the world court that Montevideo’s authorization of construction of two pulp mills breached the terms of a 1975 treaty between Argentina and Uruguay that governs use of the river.

Argentina says the Finnish-built mill is responsible for a huge toxic algae bloom in the river and hydrogen sulfide gas drifting over nearby towns and villages.

“It smells like rotten eggs,” Cerutti said. “It is a disgusting, nauseating odor.”

Uruguay says the $1.2 billion plant – the biggest foreign investment project in the country’s history – should boost Uruguay’s exports by 15 percent.

Argentina has five days to make its case before Uruguay starts its defense on Sept 21. Both countries then have two more days each to make final arguments before the court begins deliberating. It will likely take months to issue a ruling.

The court earlier refused to order a halt to construction of the mills and turned down a Uruguayan request to order Argentina to end the bridge blockades.

World court rulings are final and binding, though they are not always obeyed. The court, which is the highest judicial body of the United Nations, adjudicates disputes between nations.