MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivia proposes sovereignty-free access to the Pacific Ocean

Bolivian ambassador to Chile Roberto Finot proposed Sunday that Bolivia rent a small strip of coastal Chile to allow the landlocked nation access to the Pacific Ocean. The 50-year “sovereignty-free” port concession would not force Chile to cede any portion of its territory or sovereignty.

"[This is a] plausible proposal: an important step forward that demonstrates political realism," said Finot. The proposed Bolivian enclave would be north of Arica. Bolivia has repeatedly sought renewed access the Pacific Ocean, which it lost in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained for decades because of the issue, but appear to have thawed somewhat, as Bolivian president Evo Morales and Chilean president Michelle Bachelet making concerted efforts at a dialogue and reconciliation. Still, Peru's government denounced Finot's proposal, citing a 1928 treaty between Chile and Peru that prevents Chile from transferring any portion of Arica to another country without first getting Peru's approval According to Finot, "[Bolivia] understands the issue between Chile and Peru, and thus the [sovereignty-free] proposal seems to us to be very possible." La Tercera reports that Bolivian officials are aware that a deal must be struck soon, before Bachelet's administration is distracted by Chile's 2008 election season, and are worried that La Moneda has been slow to reply to the offer. Bolivia's proposal elicited mixed reactions among Chilean parliamentarians. Sen. Sergio Romero of the National Renovation Party said, "I do not see how we could give up sovereigntyâ€Ã‚¦. This is something they might seek in the future." Socialist Party minister Carlos Ominami also warned that the deal would be very badly received in Peru. Still, Independent Democratic Union legislator Juan Antonio Coloma said, "We are willing to do everything possible to help other countries as long as Chile will not become a smaller countryâ€Ã‚¦. If the proposal does not require losing territorial or maritime sovereignty, nor will it seek it in the future, then it can be evaluated with an open mind." Bolivian President Evo Morales and Bachelet are set to meet at the Mercosur Summit in Paraguay on Friday. The Santiago Times