MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru's president García gesture towards Chile

This border should be a point of integration said Pte. Garcia

Dampening speculation of a growing rift between the two neighboring countries, Peruvian President Alan Garcia this week traveled to a shared Chilean-Peruvian border area to promote further economic integration between Peru and Chile.

"This border is very important and it should be a point of integration. We are opening a port of connection and continuance between the two countries," said García, speaking at the Santa Rosa border crossing shared by the two countries. "We are both countries who are destined to strengthen social development and economic growth." The gesture of friendship came after Peru's decision earlier this month to publish a controversial maritime map showing a contested area of the Pacific Ocean as belonging to Peru. The "map incident" provoked an outcry from Chilean officials, who immediately called Chile's ambassador to Peru – Christian Barros - home for consultations. Just day's later, however, Peru was shaken by a powerful earthquake, diverting attention from the diplomatic dispute. And on Wednesday, Ambassador Barros – now back in Peru – expressed Chile's solidarity with the victims of Peru's earthquake when he traveled to the devastated city of Pisco, just south of Lima. More than 510 people have lost their lives in the natural catastrophe, including one Chilean woman living in Peru. Another 1350 have been injured. "We should not mix the two situations: one matter is Chilean solidarity with the tragedy in Peru and another very different matter is the determined defense of our sovereignty," said Chilean Sen. Juan Antonio Coloma (UDI). Chilean air force planes delivered 20 tons of aid to the Peru earthquake victims on Tuesday, consisting of tents, food, woolen blankets and medicine."(Santiago Times)