MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina-Chile UN stand-by combined peace force

Chile and Argentina sealed an agreement this week in Buenos Aires creating the Argentina-Chile Combined Peace Force, the first initiative of its kind in the hemisphere.

Chilean minister Jaime Ravinet and Argentine counterpart Nilda Garré highlighted the importance of the bi-national force, following on the Understanding Protocol signed last August 29 in Chile.

Minister Ravinet pointed out the close Defence links between Chile and Argentina which translated into the transparency pioneering of "homologation of military expenditure, combined exercises and mutual confidence building measures".

"The fact that we've made up an integrated peace force between the Armed Forces of both countries is a superior level of cooperation, because it enables us to transmit this peace spirit to other countries of the continent and the world".

Ms Garre said that the meeting with her Chilean counterpart is evidence of the level of agreement, "of cooperation which our countries have reached. It's an example of the integration process which can be seen in the whole sub region".

When asked specifically about the potential for a conflict between Chile and Argentina, Minister Ravinet stressed that the "current level makes absolutely unviable or unimaginable a conflict hypotheses. The Chilean Armed Forces are only committed to cooperation and integration".

The signing ceremony in the Argentine Defence Ministry building was preceded by four meetings from the Bi-national task group made up with representatives from the three branches of both countries Armed Forces plus advisors from the two ministries of Defence.

The Combined Peace Force will have a bi-national policy direction mechanism and a combined Chief of Staff which will begin operating in 2006 alternatively six months in each capital, Buenos Aires and Santiago.

The full restructuring of the combined force is scheduled to conclude December 2007 and from then on it will be available to United Nations in the framework of the Stand By Arrangements System.