MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina-Chile standing joint force for peace operations

The Chilean and Argentine Armed Forces are considering the creation of a standing combined force for peace operations with a joint command, announced Chilean Defence minister Jaime Ravinet who is hosting his Argentine counterpart Jose Pampuro.

Talks began Sunday during the first of a two days official visit of Mr. Pampuro that includes an interview with President Ricardo Lagos and the ruling coalition's candidate for next December's presidential election, Michelle Bachelet.

"This will demand an in depth analysis inside each Armed Forces, integration of military doctrines plus the necessary infrastructure and logistics for the new joint force", said Mr. Ravinet. "These kind of units are not common, they only exist among NATO members", added Mr. Ravinet who indicated that since independence days, at the beginning of the XIXth century, "Chile and Argentina have never been so united in military terms". "We're thinking of a permanent force, for United Nations peace operations, involving personnel and equipment from both countries, a kind of modern version of the 1817 joint experience when General San Martin crossed the Andes and helped Bernardo O'Higgins defeat the Spaniards and make Chile independent".

The two defence ministers will be travelling to Valparaíso to receive the Chilean Navy School tall ship "Esmeralda" which for the first time in history invited 72 Argentine Navy cadets to complete their training course in the annual world cruise.

On Monday following the meeting with president Lagos, Mr. Pampuro will be honoured with the "Great Cross to Merit" for his efforts in improving links between both countries and promoting confidence building among the armed forces of Chile and Argentina.

Currently 32 Chilean marines are stationed in UN peace keeping operations in Cyprus as part of the "Argentina" battalion. Argentine and Chilean servicemen, together with other Latinamerican forces, are also involved in Haiti.