MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru and Chile disagree over maritime border.

Peru and Chile who share most of the southern hemisphere east Pacific coastline are again at odds over maritime borders which directly affect fisheries.

Chile officially reiterated this week that it will nor reconsider its position regarding maritime borders in spite of Peruvian decision to seek international arbitration, "in the framework of United Nations or the Inter-American system".

Peru announced last Saturday that the country "would appeal to the peaceful means solution contemplated in international law for controversies".

Lima's leading newspaper "El Comercio" said that the Peruvian Foreign Affairs release actually referred to the International Tribunal of The Hague, which was specifically mentioned almost two months ago when Peru proposed maritime border talks to Chile.

Last July 19 Peru proposed a 60 days period to begin talks on the matter since there are no subscribed accords, but Chile replied that the issue had been solved with the 1952 and 1954 accords which also include Ecuador.

"Chile's position is crystal clear. It's based in international treaties signed not only subscribed by Chile, but also by Ecuador, and whatever the circumstances our arguments are solid because they are based on international treaties", explained Soledad Alvear, Chile's Foreign Secretary.

A member of the Chilean Congress Foreign Affairs Committee, Jorge Tarud, went even further, "most probably Peru will finally present its case before The Hague Court, but the case was settled. We have the three parties' documents of 1952 and 1954. Besides, the Court is not competent with settled cases".

However the Peruvian government insists that no treaty or agreement subscribed between both countries "has established any limits". Peru also pointed out that the issue "does not interfere with the existent dynamic cooperation and friendship" between both countries. Peru is demanding that the maritime border be established following an equidistant line, and not a perpendicular straight line as formulated by Chile in the 1952 declaration. Peru argues that the straight line of 1952 means loosing a marine biomass of 34,000 square miles which is vital for a country: fisheries in one of the main industries and Peru are also the world's main fish meal exporter.