MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Norwegian financed team of experts begins demining in Chile-Peru border areas

The mines date back to the seventies when the two countries were almost involved in an armed conflict

A group of experts from Norway begins on Monday demining tasks along the Chile-Peru border which are expected to last for at least two months, according to a release from the Chilean Foreign Ministry.

The work will be done “under the conditions and forms” agreed with the Chilean and Peruvian governments last June, when they requested the Norwegian People’s Aid non government organization to help with the elimination of the deadly explosives.

Heavy rains towards the end of February in the north of Chile caused mines to slide and forced the closure of the frontier pass for several days and made the removal task even more urgent.

“The de-mining agreement in the region is evidence of the good will, cooperation and confidence building which inspires both governments to address a humanitarian situation”, points out the communiqué.

The areas where the 29 member team will be working are clearly marked. The team arrived with their equipment to the northern Chilean city of Arica last Friday, from where they plan to organize the task. The Norwegian aid team is made up of Bosnian nationals, with a long experience in the Balkans.

The anti personnel and anti tank mines were planted in the seventies when Chile and Peru were at the verge of an armed conflict. Nevertheless the fields on both sides are clearly mapped and marked, and according to the Chilean communiqué “are only waiting to be removed to comply with the Ottawa Convention on demining”.