MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru's Humala extends a hand to Chile

Peru's ultra nationalist presidential candidate Ollanta Humala said that in the event of victory his government would seek closer ties with Chile's Michelle Bachelet with the purpose of establishing a bilateral integration policy.

If elected "I will work hand to hand with Ms Bachelet seeking a bilateral integration policy", said the former Army officer in a television interview in Lima.

"We're not anti Chilean, we hold no resentment against Chile, the fact is we want to build a mutual respect relation", underlined Humala who is leading in the public opinion polls for the presidential election of next April 9.

Nevertheless Humala pointed out "we're concerned with all the arms purchases of Chile when I believe the priority for Latinamerica should be development, education, health" and called for "greater transparency in military expenditure" and standing coordination meetings between the two Pacific neighbouring countries.

Last Monday Chilean Defence Minister Vivianne Blanlot said Chile "was no treta" for nobody and insisted that the recent arms purchases are part of an obsolete equipment renewal process.

As to Mr. Humala's electoral promises to regulate Chilean investments in Peru and launching a Peruvian flag air to compete with Lan Peru, under control of Lan Chile, he said commercial competition must not be seen as a concern.

"We're living in the XXI century and to promote the creation of an airline with Peruvian capital to compete with Lan Chile, can't be seen as a threat or with concern", said Humala.

The Peruvian presidential candidate also brushed aside any military conflict with Chile and advocated a commitment to development and avoiding all "absurd conflicts". But we are concerned that one of our neighbours has began to renew so compulsively its military equipment"

Finally regarding the Bolivia's request for an outlet to the Pacific through Chilean territory, Mr. Humala said it was a fair petition, "but it's a bilateral issue between Chile and Bolivia. It was Chile that took the sea from Bolivia".