In what has become a back-and-forth spat, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Friday responded to a letter of protest sent to him last week by his Costa Rican counterpart Bruno Stagno over a Costa Rica fishing boat detained by Nicaraguan authorities April 10.

Nicaragua claims the boat, named “El Privilegio,” invaded its waters, while Costa Rica claims it was clearly in Tico waters and was unjustly detained.

Santos' note, which was posted on the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry's Web site yesterday, reiterated his country's position that the boat trespassed on Nicaraguan waters.

The Nicaraguan military's detention of the boat “took place in the context of compliance with its plans for protection of fishing resources and the fight against illegal activities at sea,” the letter reads.

The small boat with five passengers aboard – four Costa Ricans and two U.S. citizens -- “was found in a frank violation of international security norms for navigation,” it said.

The passengers were released the day of the arrest, and Nicaraguan authorities allowed them to bring the boat back to Costa Rica after paying a fine, according to the daily La Nación.

Santos also alleged that Costa Rica “unilaterally imposed a limit to Nicaragua's maritime territory” by ignoring Pacific Ocean limits negotiated by the two countries.

This stance “in no way corresponds with the theory and practice of diplomacy and international rights,” Santos said.

As of yesterday afternoon, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry had not publicly responded to Santos' letter.

-ACAN-EFE