Chilean President, Sebastian Piñera, said this Saturday that a supposed maritime case against his country by Bolivia in The Hague would be without historical or legal basis.
“The supposed right of Bolivia to have sovereign access to the sea through Chilean territory, as well as the alleged obligation that Chile would have to negotiate on this lacks all basis, historical and legal,” said Piñera in a brief statement in the Chilean Presidential palace.
The head of state defended the validity of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1904 which fixed the borders after the Pacific War (1879-1883).
Piñera concluded by saying that, “Chile and her people will defend her territory, her sea, her skies and her sovereignty with all the force of national unity, history and truth, within the framework of international treaties and international law.”
Statements by the Chilean President were prompted in response to the announcement by his Bolivian counterpart who confirmed earlier that day that in the coming days La Paz will file a case against Chile in The Hague claiming a way out to the Pacific ocean.
Since 1904, after the establishment of the peace treaty between the Governments of Santiago and La Paz, through which Bolivia lost her coastal territory to Chile and with it her access to the Pacific, relations between both countries have experienced moments of tension.
In another move, Chile is confronting a case lodged by Peru in The Hague concerning maritime borders the results of which should be known in the middle of the year.
