MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile and Bolivia willing to address “complex issues”

Chile and Bolivia have agreed on a bilateral work program which will advance “gradually towards more complex problems” such as the resumption of diplomatic relations and an outlet to the sea announced Monday Chile's Foreign Affairs minister, Alejandro Foxley.

The Chilean minister revealed the agreement was reached following a meeting with Bolivian president Evo Morales during the inauguration ceremonies of President Michelle Bachelet last Friday and Saturday.

"I spoke with president Morales about a work program, beginning with simple, concrete targets in such areas as trade and finance, and then advance gradually to other issues", said Foxley.

"Once confidence building has cemented between both governments, on a solid base, we can then plan more ambitious objectives", he underlined, adding that President Morales visit to Chile for the inauguration "was a very good starting point for bilateral understanding".

"It's all open. We've had no working session yet. There's good will and the desire to make things advance and be positive. The good climate, the good feeling started between Evo Morales and President Lagos continues", he emphasized.

Foxley who was present at the Bachelet-Morales meeting said "he felt a very sincere spirit from both sides to establish an open agenda with no exclusions".

In a U turn from the traditional stance of Bolivian governments, President Morales administration recently announced it was interested is selling thermo-electricity to Chile, a proposal both countries have been considering "informally".

Bolivian Hydrocarbons minister Andres Soliz also revealed Bolivia was willing to sell natural gas to Chile, because "that's where the world's largest copper mines are".

Bolivian official policy has been that no gas or electricity will be provided to Chile unless Santiago is willing to award Bolivia a sea access. The country lost its Pacific outlet following a war with Chile in 1879.

Bolivia plans to build gas pipelines linking deposits in Tarija with the country's west and central regions. One of those pipelines will extend to the town of Uvuni in the border with Chile where a giant electricity generating plan has been planned.