MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian and Chilean armies cool situation.

With the background of a growing diplomatic rift born out of border disputes going back to the XIX century, the Peruvian and Chilean armies have helped to cool the situation by committing themselves to “never again war between our countries”, although “history must never be forgotten”.

General Jose Antonio Graham, Commander in Chief of the Peruvian Army was this week the guest of his Chilean counterpart General Juan Emilio Cheyre who was bestowed with the highest honour medal for foreign officials "Victory Cross".

The motive for the visit was the 226 birth anniversary of Chile's national hero Bernardo O'Higgins.

During the solemn ceremony General Graham avoided referring to the current diplomatic exchange between both countries and admitted that even when there was a military conflict (1879) "this must be remembered so as not to repeat errors of the past; never again war between Chile and Peru?never again. No war ever, because wars are no good for nobody".

General Cheyre invited his Peruvian counterpart to be partners in ensuring peace and security.

"We wish together with the Peruvian Army, under your distinguished command to be partners in ensuring peace and security; a commitment of new times and the spirit claimed by our peoples and their legitimate representatives in the framework of the modern concept of security", said the Chilean Army Commander in Chief. "Modernity and progress experienced by the peoples of the world should inspire us to strengthen our relations", added General Graham.

During the 1879 Pacific war, when Chile defeated an alliance of Peru and Bolivia, Chile extended its northern border by keeping Bolivia' sea outlet and part of Peru's most southern province.

However in spite of several treaties in 1929 and in the fifties, Bolivia repeatedly insists in a sovereign Pacific access which rings a bell in some extreme nationalist Peruvians. This is particularly true when either or both countries are involved in deep political crisis as happened with Bolivia that ousted its elected president October 2003 and Peru where President Alejandro Toledo has lost control of Congress, had the lowest presidential rating in Latinamerica, 7% and his forced resignation was beginning to be considered.

However following the resurgence of the historical diplomatic dispute, Mr. Toledo's standing has more than doubled and it's possible he can end his mandate in 2006.

Military exercises on both sides of the Chilean and Peruvian borders did not help the situation and the official reconciliation of army commanders seems to have cooled the situation.

The latest public opinion poll in Peru shows 64% of interviews supporting a diplomatic solution to the border dispute with Chile, 30% taking the matter to an international tribunal and only 4% favoring the use of force.

As to the creation of a Defence Fund to re-equip the Armed Forces, 72% of Peruvians said the money would be better employed in education and health, although 78% believe the services do not have the sufficient capabilities to defend the country's borders.