MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Defense Committee meets in Punta Arenas to address pretensions over Magellan sovereignty

Chilean Vice-president Claudio Alvarado arrives at Punta Arenas for the Magellan Strait ceremony

Chilean Vice-president Claudio Alvarado praised the Defense Committee from the House of Deputies which is planning to hold a formal meeting next Friday at the Austral Naval Command in Punta Arenas, to address the Defense budget, Armed Forces capability and austral sovereignty particularly the Magellan Strait.

 The minister of Defense Fernando Barros, members of Congress linked to foreign relations, the commanders of the armed forces branches, heads of regional units and from the Austral Command will also be present at the meeting.

The motive for the gathering has been the 183rd anniversary of the Chilean whole undisputable possession of the Magellan Strait, following a resurgence of certain Argentine claims.

The official session will be strictly reserved given the sensitivity and strategic defense issues to be addressed, naval procurement and austral sovereignty, according to lower House sources.

Vice-president and Home Secretary Alvarado recalled the feat of the schooner ‘Ancud’ which left the island of Chiloe and four months later, on September 21st 1843 arrived at the Magellan Strait and raised the Chilean flag taking possession of the strategic maritime passage. This is the 183 anniversary of such a feat that also meant the final establishment of the Chilean state in its territory at the end of the South American continent.

Precisely last Monday (21st September), a delegation of Senators from the different political blocks in the House also joined the vice president in the commemoration of the event and reaffirmation of complete Chilean sovereignty over the total Magellan Strait.

“The Defense Committee represents popular sovereignty and this is why it is so important that all branches of government are present and concerned about the reality of our austral territory and waters. We must remember the brave men 183 years ago when, ‘…faced with difficulties, never gave in’”.

Alvarado recalled that the crew and officers of ‘Ancud’ when they landed at St. Ana flew Chilean colors and they founded Fort Bulnes, in honor of Chilean president at the time, but later had to move northwards and in December 1848, started Punta Arenas.

Independent deputy and member of the Committee Daniel Valenzuela said that “the defense of the nation demands responsibility and reserve, The Republic of Chile must be respected and we are not going to allow any nation to try and move a millimeter of our territory, or come to tell us how we must defend our sovereignty. Chile has professional armed forces, well prepared and capable of defending our territory”.

Valenzuela also underlined that the strategic scenario of the region must be analyzed very seriously, particularly “the Argentine growing military expenditure, and addressed to Patagonia, plus the defense acquisitions of Peru, and with our GDP percentage we must focus on security and national defense”.

“We can’t expect things to happen, prevention is also defense”. Chile’s sovereignty and defense policies, belong to the Chileans, no foreign power or neighboring country is going to tell us the lead.”

Finally when Alvarado met the press and was asked if Argentina had effectively derogated the decree questioning sovereignty over the Strait, the vice-president bluntly replied, “the Magellan Strait is indisputably Chilean, therefore the existing Treatises, 1881 and 1984, must be respected no matter whatever is said about them. The Treaties were signed by both countries and the sovereignty over Magallanes Strait is entirely exercised by Chile”.

Alvarado also promised that on his return to Santiago he would talk with President Antonio Kast to have the 21st September nominated as a regional holiday in Magallanes, a long standing ambition of the locals.