The United Nations’ highest court has rejected a request by Bolivia for its judges to order Chile to negotiate a way of granting landlocked Bolivia access to the Pacific Ocean.

International Court of Justice President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said Monday a string of agreements between the two countries and Chilean statements over the years didn’t create an obligation on Chile to negotiate access to the ocean for Bolivia.

Bolivia lost its only coast to neighboring Chile during a 1879-1883 war and the nation has demanded ocean access for generations.

But Chile argued in court that its border with Bolivia was settled in a 1904 treaty and that it had no obligation to negotiate.
…