Uruguay said it would order the dismantling of a paper mill if The Hague International Court of Justice rules against the country in a complaint filed by Argentina.

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Pedro Vaz said Montevideo is awaiting a favouring ruling of the court that could resolve the ongoing dispute over a paper mill owned by Finnish company Botnia, which Argentina claims was built without an authorization from Buenos Aires.

The factory is located on the banks of the Uruguay river, across the shore from the Argentine city of Gualeguaychú. Residents of Gualeguaychú have been blocking a bridge linking both nations for almost three years to press both governments to order the relocation of the plant, which they say is polluting the surrounding area.

"We wait the decision of the court to be a push, a point to end a dispute that has been unpleasant to all of us," said Vaz during an interview today. The minister said the court would likely make a ruling on the case between March and April 2010.

Argentine filed a complaint against Uruguay in 2006, accusing Uruguay of violating an international treaty when it failed to ask an authorization from Argentina for the construction of the plant.