MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile begins de-mining next to Argentine border

With the presence of Defence ministers from Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, Chilean authorities will officially begin next Tuesday de-mining operations in the north of country, according to Santiago press reports.

Jaime Ravinet from Chile has invited his Argentine and Bolivian counterparts, Nidia Garré and Walker San Miguel to the symbolic ceremony in the province of Antofagasta bordering with Argentina.

It is estimated that 700 explosive artifacts will be de-activated in the National Park of Llullaillaco.

Chile is complying with the 2002 Ottawa Convention which bans the manufacturing, use and storage of mines.

Chilean Defence ministry sources has records of at least 23.000 antipersonnel mines planted in the border with Bolivia, plus another 118.000 in areas neighbouring Argentina and Peru.

The planting of the mines dates back to the seventies when Chile was ruled by dictator Augusto Pinochet and his regime had strained relations with Bolivia, Peru and Argentina in spite of all being military. A war situation between Chile and Argentina was contained by Pope John Paul II in December 1978, minutes after tanks began rolling.

In 1997 under the administration of President Eduardo Frei, Chile subscribed the Ottawa Convention and is committed to a program of anti personnel mines destruction which is being accomplished in several stages.