MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru/Chile sea limits, a standing controversy

Peruvian presidential candidate Lourdes Flores said that in the event of winning next April's election her administration would appeal to international courts to solve the sea limits dispute pending with Chile.

In a long Sunday interview with one of Lima's main dailies La Republica, Ms Flores who leads in public opinion polls insisted that the issue of the "maritime limits" with Chile is still pending and once "we've exhausted all other possible channels", her government would appeal to international organizations.

However she pointed out that whatever the position of her government, in the event of winning, "it should have no negative impact on Chilean investments in Peru".

Ms. Flores belonging to the Conservative Unidad Nacional alliance is leading in the polls for next April 9 presidential elections although still short of avoiding a run off.

Peru and Chile have a long standing controversy over maritime limits. Peru states the issue is still pending because it hasn't been defined by both governments, and Santiago argues that the fisheries treaties of 1952 and 1954 put a full end to the litigation.

Peru favors an equidistant line and Chile a geographic parallel. Last October the Peruvian Congress approved the base lines from which to determine the 200 miles of Peruvian EEZ as a strategy to advance on the controversy.

In related news the Chilean Army will be honoring next March one of Peru greatest military heroes Francisco Bolognesi, who was killed in combat against the Chileans in 1880 during the Pacific war.

Army Chief General Juan Emilio Cheyre is scheduled next March 6 to inaugurate a bronze and images of Peruvian commander Bolognesi in the Military Museum of the Arica Morro, where he died, June 7, 1880, during an assault by Chilean troops. Arica is a rocky cliff in the north of Chile next to the Peruvian border.

"Bolognesi was a great military leader and a man who fought for his ideals. Peruvian soldiers fought with honour and bravery", said General Cheyre.

The commander in chief of the Peruvian Army General Cesar Reinoso will be present at the ceremony, it was announced in Santiago.

"Let's look at history closely, let's recognize and write the complete truth of events, and with the complete truth I'm sure we're going to reach the integration, cooperation, peace which we need and our peoples are claiming", added General Cheyre.

Peru and Chile are not only at odds over maritime limits but arms purchases. With abundant resources from booming copper prices, Chile is renewing its surface fleet, purchased two new submarines, F-16 fighter bombers and Leopard tanks, which some Peruvian officials consider are leading to a military imbalance in the region and could force an arms race.

Chile insists they are part of an operation to renew obsolete material and equipment.

The fact is that next March 6 two second hand frigates bought to the Dutch navy are arriving in Chile.