Bolivia and Chile fought a war in 1879, when the highland country lost its only access to the Pacific Ocean. In addition, both countries sued each other in the International Court of Justice in The Hague: La Paz with its century-old claim to recover its maritime status and Santiago for the use of the border waters of the Silala.
A Bolivian-Chilean committee agreed on Tuesday (26.07.2017) on more cooperation and communication to avoid border problems, such as those recorded in recent months and which have soured the already strained bilateral relations, diplomatic officials from both countries reported.
"We agree on the need to deepen existing cooperation and communication mechanisms to prevent and avoid border incidents," said Bolivia's Border Director, Dayana Ríos, after the meeting with her Chilean colleague Ximena Fuentes and fifty officials from both countries.
La reThe merger of the Binational Border Committee came after six years and under pressure from two recent incidents which raised tensions between the two countries, which have been without ambassadors since 1978.
Last March, Two Bolivian soldiers and seven customs officers were arrested in Chilean territory and accused of robbery, smuggling and carrying weaponsAfter three months in prison, they were expelled following a trial in which they were sentenced to pay a fine of 48.000 dollars, which Bolivia assumed.
Two Chilean police officers were arrested in Bolivia this July while chasing a stolen car and were returned to their country two days later.
Rivers said that Bolivia proposed the development of a protocol to deal with border incidents which will be evaluated by Chile.
Fuentes, for his part, said that both countries showed a desire to "facilitate police communication and efficiency in the pursuit of crimes."
There are frequent versions that Drug trafficking, smuggling of goods and trade in stolen cars are rife along the common border of some 850 kilometers..
A new meeting of the border committee will take place in Chile next October.
The two countries also agreed to continue coordinating on issues such as customs, migration, consular affairs and to re-establish a border committee for the replacement and repair of border markers.
Bolivia and Chile fought a war in 1879., when the high plateau country lost its only access to the Pacific Ocean.
In addition, both countries sued each other in the International Court of Justice in The Hague: La Paz with its century-old claim to recover its maritime status and Santiago for the use of the Silala border waters.
Source: AFP
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