Peruvian leader for toughening ties with Chile
Prensa Latina, Cuba
Peruvian Leader for Toughening Ties with Chile
12 June 2007
Lima, Jun 12 (Prensa Latina) Peruvian President Alan Garcia rejected the demand made by opposition leader Ollanta Humala to freeze an economic agreement with Chile until the border dispute is solved.
The chief of the Nationalist Party (PNP) made the statement last night in the face of intensified bilateral diplomatic controversy surrounding the border dispute.
It is necessary to withdraw all the procedures of a virtual bilateral free Trade Treaty if the border situation is not solved, assured Humala.
The agreement must be frozen, facing Chilean foreign minister Alejandro Foxley’s declaration that there are no more unresolved issues with Peru that means to refuse to talk.
President Garcia showed the possibility of closing borders with Chile if the dispute is finished, what could last years, demanding serenity and patience, without shrillness or excessive news headlines.
Trade and investment should not be affected by the conflict.
Peru demands Chile to negotiate the sea common border but Santiago said it was decided by agreement over half a century ago, since they are fishing areas and not bordering treaties.
Humala said he had denounced those occupations a few months ago and attacked the government for denying them and called upon it to raise the Peruvian flag in that territory to prove Peru’s sovereignty over that area.
