MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile annoyed with Fidel's “meddling” reflections

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday she was annoyed at “meddling” comments by former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who wrote in an article that Chile snatched Bolivia's only sea access in the 19th century.

The issue, dating back to the War of the Pacific (1879), has long been a very sensitive issue between Chile and landlocked Bolivia that still do not have full diplomatic ties. Bolivian President Evo Morales applauded Castro's comments. Fidel Castro went on to question whether a swathe of far northern Chile, rich in copper, nitrate, guano and other valuables really belonged to Chile or Bolivia. "With the same frankness and clarity with which we discussed the future agenda with President Raul Castro, I told President Castro of my annoyance at the erroneous declarations in an article after my courtesy visit to see the former ruler of Cuba," Bachelet told reporters on landing back in Chile after her visit to the island. "I signalled, as our country has always signalled, that we do not accept meddling by third parties either in domestic affairs or bilateral issues, and that Chile and Bolivia discuss alone issues which correspond to both countries," she added. In his Thursday reflection the leader of the Cuban revolution argues that over a century ago the Chilean oligarchy, acting in coordination with the "yanks" during the Pacific war of 1879 snatched Bolivia of its access to the Pacific Ocean condemning Bolivia to a "historical humiliation". Fidel Castro published a second article on Saturday, in which he said he had not intended to offend Bachelet by referring to the long-standing border dispute, and accused Chile's "oligarchs" of seeking to create trouble. "I received the Chilean head of state with total respect," 82-year-old Castro wrote. "I did not use a single word that could offend the illustrious visitor. That would be nonsensical". Furthermore the ideas emitted were "strictly personal in nature". "I was pretty moderate in saying that it was not clear whether those minerals belonged to Chileans or Bolivians. It was a diplomatic way of expressing the realities," he said. "I have no commitment other than with the historical truth, and history records that Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of America, upon proclaiming Bolivia's independence, designated a broad strip of the Pacific coast of South America between the 22nd and 23rd parallels. It also records that the Atacama Desert was included in the territory of the newly-born Bolivia when victory was won over the Spanish empire". "As for me, I shall always remain faithful to the historic people who sacrificed so many lives starting on September 11, 1973, defending the immortal ideas of President Salvador Allende and I will condemn the wily policies of Augusto Pinochet until my last breath. Can the Chilean oligarchy and the bureaucrats who are attempting to clean it of all responsibility say as much?" Fidel ends his latest reflection with a comment on Sunday's referendum in Venezuela. "Be that as it may, nobody can take away any of the brilliance or importance from the historical moment that the approval or rejection of the Venezuelan Constitutional Amendment will signify the day after tomorrow".