BOLIVIA’S TOP REPRESENTATIVE IN CHILE REMOVED
Aug. 8, 2007
Robert Finot, erstwhile Bolivian representative to Chile, announced his departure from the post Monday, Bolivia’s National Day. Finot was informed of his removal Sunday following controversial comments he made concerning Chile-Bolivia bilateral relations.
“I want to make a toast to integration between Chile and Bolivia,” said Finot after announcing his departure.
Late last week the former ambassador claimed Chile and Bolivia were on the brink of signing an agreement to exchange natural gas for sea access. Despite an immediate denial from Chilean officials, Finot maintained his position on the matter, insisting, “I am simply commenting on what I see.” (ST, Aug 7).
Chilean Foreign Affairs undersecretary Alberto van Klaveren objected to Finot’s statements, pointing out that the Bolivian ambassador was not involved in bilateral discussions of that nature.
Speculations about an agreement of this nature have been flying around the southern cone for months now. Energy-hungry Chile is under pressure to find an alternative source of natural gas in the face of ever-increasing cuts and price-rises from current supplier, Argentina. In exchange for gas, land-locked Bolivia is hoping for renewed access the Pacific Ocean, which it lost in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. Complicating any sea access deal, however, is treaty language from last century saying that Peru must sign off on any exchange of sovereign lands between Chile and Bolivia.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained for decades because of the issue, but appear to have thawed somewhat, as Bolivian president Evo Morales and Chilean president Michelle Bachelet appear to be making concerted efforts at dialogue and reconciliation (ST, June 26).
Still, officials failed to address the subject of a gas deal during a bilateral meeting late last month, preferring instead to play safe and keep the discussion to energy problems in Latin America as a whole (ST, Aug. 1).
A proposal for “sovereignty-free access” to Chile’s coast – put forward by Finot last month – was met with similarly unsupportive response at that time. Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca called the rumors “pure speculation.” (ST, June 28).
While statements of this nature cost Finot his position, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales made similar assertions during his address to Bolivia on Monday. “(Bolivia) will soon have sea access,” said Morales.
SOURCE: LA TERCERA
By Beatrice Karol Burks (editor@santiagotimes.cl)
Robert Finot, erstwhile Bolivian representative to Chile, announced his departure from the post Monday, Bolivia’s National Day. Finot was informed of his removal Sunday following controversial comments he made concerning Chile-Bolivia bilateral relations.
“I want to make a toast to integration between Chile and Bolivia,” said Finot after announcing his departure.
Late last week the former ambassador claimed Chile and Bolivia were on the brink of signing an agreement to exchange natural gas for sea access. Despite an immediate denial from Chilean officials, Finot maintained his position on the matter, insisting, “I am simply commenting on what I see.” (ST, Aug 7).
Chilean Foreign Affairs undersecretary Alberto van Klaveren objected to Finot’s statements, pointing out that the Bolivian ambassador was not involved in bilateral discussions of that nature.
Speculations about an agreement of this nature have been flying around the southern cone for months now. Energy-hungry Chile is under pressure to find an alternative source of natural gas in the face of ever-increasing cuts and price-rises from current supplier, Argentina. In exchange for gas, land-locked Bolivia is hoping for renewed access the Pacific Ocean, which it lost in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. Complicating any sea access deal, however, is treaty language from last century saying that Peru must sign off on any exchange of sovereign lands between Chile and Bolivia.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained for decades because of the issue, but appear to have thawed somewhat, as Bolivian president Evo Morales and Chilean president Michelle Bachelet appear to be making concerted efforts at dialogue and reconciliation (ST, June 26).
Still, officials failed to address the subject of a gas deal during a bilateral meeting late last month, preferring instead to play safe and keep the discussion to energy problems in Latin America as a whole (ST, Aug. 1).
A proposal for “sovereignty-free access” to Chile’s coast – put forward by Finot last month – was met with similarly unsupportive response at that time. Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca called the rumors “pure speculation.” (ST, June 28).
While statements of this nature cost Finot his position, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales made similar assertions during his address to Bolivia on Monday. “(Bolivia) will soon have sea access,” said Morales.
SOURCE: LA TERCERA
By Beatrice Karol Burks (editor@santiagotimes.cl)
posted by Alice at
Thursday, August 09, 2007
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