In a speech on the occasion of the 145th anniversary of the “Heroic Defense of Calama” and before the remains of the main hero of that battle, Eduardo Abaroa, the president outlined how to reach a rapprochement between what he called brotherly peoples.

“On this significant date, I refer to six challenges being faced by both countries, to leave behind the wounds of the past and face a new time of bilateral rapprochement, beneficial for our peoples and the entire region,” he said.

He emphasized that the first one calls for dialogue on Bolivia’s status as a landlocked country based on what was pointed out by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, in paragraph 176 of the October 1, 2018, ruling, regarding continuing talks on Bolivia’s landlocked situation.

“(…) With the political will of our governments we can hold meaningful negotiations to find transcendental solutions that positively mark the development of our bilateral relationship,” the president added.

Arce pointed out that the second challenge is to take full advantage of all the potential offered by the Sica Sica-Arica Pipeline, whose construction was agreed upon with Chile in 1957, in the context of Article 6 of the 1904 Treaty, and related instruments, by which the neighboring country recognizes in favor of Bolivia “the broadest and freest right of commercial transit.”

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