MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile clears minefields in Bolivian border.

The Chilean Army announced this Monday it will eliminate 6,526 anti personnel and anti tank mines in five fields close to the Peruvian border in the north of the country.

The official release from the Chilean Ministry of Defence emphasizes "this is yet another signal of mutual unilateral confidence building of Chile towards its neighbors".

The mine sweeping is to begin this week with a cost ranging between 300 and 1,000 US dollars per explosive and is expected to demand eight months.

Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet and Army Commander in Chief General Juan Emilio Cheyre will be present at the beginning of operations.

The mining dates back to the seventies when Chile as well as neighboring Peru and Bolivia were ruled by military regimes and the Chilean high command feared a repeat of the 1879 Pacific war with Peru and Bolivia.

A victorious Chile left Bolivia without a sea outlet and also took possession of a southern piece of Peruvian territory. Both countries have repeatedly claimed repossession of the land.

Following the Ottawa Convention banning production, storage and use of all types of mines, Chile last year destroyed 300,000 stored mines and in the coming eight years plans to eliminate another 123,443 in mine fields along the borders of neighboring countries, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina in the south.