MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean-Bolivian ministerial meeting.

Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Ignacio Walker confirmed that he will be meeting his Bolivian counterpart Juan Ignacio Siles in the framework of the Rio Group presidential summit scheduled this week in Brazil.

The meeting will take place this Wednesday advanced Mr. Walker who described it "as a great moment to review bilateral relations". This will also be the first time high officials from Chile and Bolivia meet following the recent offensive launched by La Paz with the purpose of reviewing a bilateral treaty dating back to1904.

Bolivia argues that the century old 1904 Treaty was imposed by force, sealing Bolivia's chances of access to the Pacific, a demand which the landlocked country is reiterating insisting on a "sovereign and useful" exit to the sea.

Although diplomatic relations between both countries remain interrupted since the seventies Mr. Walker considers that daily relations "have never been interrupted" given the heavy border interaction in areas such as trade and transport.

Mr. Walker underlined that this first meeting with Mr. Siles is an excellent opportunity to review relations and "I personally see it as a chance to think in terms of the future which is what really matters to the people of Bolivia and Chile". "For me it will be a great honour to talk with the Foreign Affairs minister of the sister republic of Bolivia", added Mr. Walker.

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos will be travelling to Rio do Janeiro next Thursday for the summit and Chilean diplomatic sources have discarded any possibility of a bilateral meeting (out of agenda) with Bolivian president Carlos Mesa.

The historical differences between both countries stem from the Pacific War, (1879-1883) during which Chile defeated an alliance of Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia lost its sea exit and Peru lost a portion of its territory to Chile.

Tensions between Chile and Bolivia began to heat up last October 20 when the centenary of the Peace and Friendship Treaty signed by both countries in 1904. The opportunity was taken up by Bolivian president Carlos Mesa to demand a new border treaty, but President Lagos said there are no pending issues between both countries.

Bolivia is insistent in a Pacific sovereign outlet, however Chile's position has been its willingness to extend "facilities" but without committing sovereignty. The dispute has also involved other Pacific nations, Peru and on Chile's side Ecuador.

Bolivia has announced it is considering taking its case to an international court and organizations, and has invited the Vatican to take an interest in the issue.