MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan migrant crisis sparks diplomatic clash between Chile and Peru

Otárola urged Boric to “solve their problems and not to throw them to another country”

Peru's Foreign Ministry Thursday Chilean ambassador Óscar Fuentes as thousands of Venezuelan migrants are trying to cross into the country from the southern border to “protest for the lack of collaboration shown by the Chilean police authorities, which has generated the events that occurred today” when a group tried to force their way into the country and circumvent the police checkpoints.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been holding working meetings with the Chilean Foreign Ministry since April 21, with the objective of finding, in a cooperative manner, solutions that address in the short and medium term the critical migratory and humanitarian situation in the border area,” Peru's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Authorities in Santiago meanwhile summoned Peru's Ambassador Jaime Pomareda and handed him a note of protest after Tacna Mayor Pascual Güisa said that “we should not allow an unmentionable and irresponsible person to transfer the problems to the border,” in reference to Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font.

On the other hand, the Peruvian Foreign Ministry asked the Chilean authorities to prevent groups of migrants from taking the Pan-American Highway. “In these meetings, the urgent need has been reiterated for the corresponding Chilean authorities to guarantee security in Chilean territory in the area of the Santa Rosa - Chacalluta border complexes and to prevent the blocking of the Pan-American highway,” the statement went on.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers of the utmost importance that the ongoing talks produce concrete advances in the solution of the migratory crisis in the border area that affects both countries and the human rights of migrants, and expresses its willingness to continue, on this basis, with the ongoing dialogue process with the Chilean Foreign Ministry,” it added.

Meanwhile, Peru's Prime Minister Alberto Otárola urged Boric to “solve their problems and not to throw them to another country.”