MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador's Correa Support to Chile in Peru Border Dispute

Pte. Bachelet receive Pte. Correa in Santiago

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa wished Chile well in its maritime-border dispute with Peru that both countries have agreed will be resolved by an international court.

''We wish Chile the best of luck,'' Correa said today in Santiago at a joint press conference with President Michelle Bachelet. ''We applaud the desire for dialogue, the desire for peace that exists between South American countries at the moment to decide their real or supposed territorial disputes.'' Peru claims its maritime border with Chile lies along a line running southwest, halfway between the two countries' coasts. Chile says the border runs due west, along a parallel of latitude from the point where their land border meets the sea. Peru says the border has never been settled. At stake are more than 100,000 square kilometers of fishing waters. Chile and Peru will send representatives to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands this week to discuss a timetable for a lawsuit. Chile claims the border was established by treaties in 1952 and 1954 that also define Ecuador's border with Peru. Peru's former defense minister Allan Wagner told The Hague court in January that the maritime zones between Chile and Peru were never determined by treaty. Correa said the two treaties are ''fully effective.'' He thanked Bachelet for condemning Colombia's bombing of a guerrilla camp in Ecuador. Correa and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe clashed at a summit on March 7 after Uribe accused Correa of taking funds from Colombian guerrillas and Correa denounced the intrusion. The leaders later shook hands and agreed to steps to alleviate the argument. ''In our region international law will prevail, not force,'' Correa said.