Bolivian legislators met with their Chilean counterparts in
Bolivia's administrative capital of La Paz on Sunday to discuss a
wide range of issues, including Bolivia's claim to access to the
Pacific Ocean, according to reports from La Paz.
Senator Nelson Avila, head of the Chilean delegation, described
the meeting as "people to people... without prejudices."
The meeting was designed to open dialogues and to complement and
support the work of the two nations' foreign ministers, he said,
adding that Bolivia and Chile have many things that bring them
together... "more than those that separate them."
"My mission was to take bold moves to bring the two countries
closer," he said.
The two countries broke off diplomatic ties 1978 because of a
Bolivian claim to sea access to replace its territory lost during
the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific when Bolivia and Peru fought Chile
together.
Bilateral relations thawed this year after both countries
selected new presidents, who attended each others' inauguration and
promised for talks.
Gaston Cornejo from Bolivia's ruling Movement for Socialism
party said the meeting followed the outlines set by Bolivian
President Evo Morales to boost diplomatic links with Chile.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2006)
