BOLIVIA: President says Bolivia will have access to the Pacific Ocean "sooner or later" at ceremony commemorating war with Chile

Record ID: 860837

  • Title: BOLIVIA: President says Bolivia will have access to the Pacific Ocean "sooner or later" at ceremony commemorating war with Chile
  • Date: 24th March 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF CIVIL MILITARY DISPLAY MARKING THE DAY OF THE SEA
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2010 13:00
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  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5DRH82OEM8G089YBWOXIJ3A8K
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  • Story Text: Bolivian President Evo Morales said Tuesday (March 23) that Bolivia will return to the Pacific Ocean "sooner or later."
    The comments came on Bolivia's 'Day of the Sea' during which the country remembers the 1879-1884 War of the Pacific in which Chile captured a strip of land that connected now-landlocked Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean.
    In the war Chile also captured the southern tip of Peru, completely blocking Bolivia from the Pacific.
    During the celebration soldiers and Morales paid their respects at the resting place of Bolivian war hero, Eduardo Abaroa.
    Morales hoisted the Bolivian flag and Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera raised the Whipala flag which represents indigenous peoples.
    With a full honour guard and the new presidential guard looking on, Morales said the Bolivian people will not be satisfied until their demand for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean is met.
    "The Bolivian people want to return to the Pacific Ocean. This is an unwavering feeling by the Bolivian people. Sooner or later Bolivia will return to the sea. Sooner or later Bolivia will have sovereign access to the Pacific," said Morales.
    Morales had made ground on the issue with former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and hopes to continue discussions with President Sebastian Pinera who took office earlier this month.
    "One hundred and thirty years have had to pass since the Chilean invasion of Bolivian territory to find a solution with the Chilean people. With the new president, we are now starting to build a new understanding. Greetings to President Pinera, his government and the Chilean people. Let's look for solutions for Chile and Bolivia together. We are neighbours and brothers and our people need to work together with the presidents for our own good. And there is much to be done between Chile and Bolivia just like other neighbouring countries," Morales added.
    Chile and Bolivia have not had formal diplomatic ties since the conflict except during a brief time in the 1970s, but relations strengthened with bilateral cooperation between Morales and Bachelet before she left office.
    Morales has said if the two countries cannot come to an agreement he may appeal to the international community for a solution.
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