AP News, January 16th, 2008
Peru asked the International Court of Justice on Wednesday to set its sea boundary through waters claimed by Chile, inflaming a diplomatic dispute with its neighbor.
Peru's action, filed before the world court at The Hague in the Netherlands, drew an immediate denunciation from Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley, who said the areas claimed by Peru "are unquestionably under Chilean sovereignty and jurisdiction."
Allan Wagner, Peru's representative before the World Court, told the radio station Radioprogramas from The Hague that the documents had been filed, but declined to offer details.
Court officials did not immediately confirm the case had been filed and a decision could take years.
Peru contends its maritime border with Chile has not been defined, while Chile says the border was set by treaties with Peru in 1952 and 1954. Peru argues the agreements dealt with fishing rights, not borders.
Peru argues that the two neighbors' land border continue its southwesterly direction into the ocean while Chile says it should run westward from the coast.
Foxley read a statement in Santiago, Chile, asserting that his country "deeply laments" Peru's action, which he said "fails to recognize valid treaties existing between the two countries and also fails to recognize the practice of decades of implementation of those treaties."
Foxley said Chile might summon home its ambassador to Peru, a move traditionally used by governments to express displeasure with another country.
In a more conciliatory tone, he said Chile's government will work to maintain a spirit of cooperation with Peru despite the maritime dispute.
Wagner, a former foreign and defense minister, urged Peruvians and Chileans to "allow the process to develop in an orderly manner and not become an element of nervousness."
There is strong anti-Chilean sentiment in Peru because the country lost a large chunk of its southern territory to Chile in a war in 1879.
In recent years, Chilean companies have invested large sums in buying Peruvian companies, and that also has contributed to anti-Chilean feelings here.
Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on Monday rejected Peru's claim.
"Chile considers that no pending border issue exists with Peru," Bachelet said. "The maritime limits have been established and the treaties put us in the right."
Established to resolve disputes between U.N. member states, the World Court usually takes years to reach a final decision.
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Associated Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague and Eduardo Gallardo in Santiago, Chile, contributed to this report.
