Peru Would Approve Potential Bolivian Sea Route Through Chile

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Santiago Times

PERU WOULD APPROVE POTENTIAL BOLIVIAN SEA ROUTE THROUGH CHILE

(Nov. 1, 2007) Peruvian State Secretary José Antonio García Belaúnde said Tuesday that his country would not oppose Bolivian sovereignty over former Peruvian territories if they were part of a deal to give Bolivia access to the Pacific Ocean.

Belaúnde explained that Peru would support Bolivian sovereignty in the area so long as Peruvian rights and interests were maintained in the area. Peru currently has a customs office, a train station with links to Tacna, and a docking jetty in Chile’s northernmost city.

Both Peru and Bolivia lost significant territory to Chile in the War of the Pacific, which ended in1883; Bolivia was left without any route to the sea in the encounter. The subject remains a sore one in Bolivia, where the lack off an ocean port has had serious commercial and economic consequences.

In recent months Bolivia proposed a corridor to the sea through the north of Arica province along the border of Peru. Still, the plan has been met with skepticism by Chile’s government.


Read more: http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=15113&topic_id=15

[Judi Lynn]

1. This would be an amazing event, if only it could be arranged.

On edit, adding map:

[Judi Lynn]

16. Apparently the area in question is Arica, Chile, according to the article.

It's the dot right at the northern edge of the thick red line where it meets the Pacific, right between Peru and Chile:



It would seem, as Socaldem suggested, they may be considering creating an area between the two countries. it would make sense.

[SoCalDem]

2. Environmentally and economically it seems smarter

to just modify the damned map:evilgrin:

Chile gives a little, Peru gives a little..and Shazaam..Bolivia has access :)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. No, wait, don't tell me.

Next headline will be: Chile Would Approve Potential Bolivian Sea Route Through Peru

[paparush]

4. I just spent 3 weeks in Peru..mostly in the southern 1/3rd of the country.

Beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. We visited Puno, on Lake Titikaka. Spend the night on Isla Tequile, where you can look out over the lake and see into Bolivia.

Before going to Puno, we did a 4 day trek on the Inca Trail to Machupichu. If you ever want to do this trek, contact Peru Treks in Cusco. They are a fabulous trekking company. They use proceeds to build school in rural areas, provide learning materials for schools, etc.

Great trip and I recommend it highly!

[Judi Lynn]

5. Can only imagine what it's like seeing Machupichu in the very first clear view. Wow.

That would be a trip of a lifetime, it seems.

The Lake, too! My god.



Lake Titikaka, from Isla Tequile

Thanks for the info. concerning the trek. Had no idea it could take 4 days. Sounds like Peru Treks is the way to go, for sure.

[heliarc]

7. When you make the trip Judi...

You should make sure to do either the 4 or 2 day hike... One takes a train from that seems like it was transported by time warp to the foot of the hills of the Inca trail. From there the Inca trail takes you through some of the most beautiful terrain in the world. After staying the night at a small observation station one awakens at 4am to make the hour long hike to the Puerta del sol. We stopped here at the crest of the hill overlooking Macchu Picchu to witness something that must have made the early Spanish expeditions gasp... generally all weep when the clouds of fog are dispersed by the Sun as it pushes the curtain of fog from the valley to reveal the ruins of Macchu Picchu. When you descend to the ruins at 8 or 9 am they are yours to enjoy almost alone as the first day trains don't arrive till 12. It is haunting and beautiful. There is nothing else like it.

Of course one can take the morning train from Cuzco to get there by 12, but having the whole ruins to ones self for the morning is priceless. I also suggest giving yourself 2 days to recover from altitude sickness/fatigue. The Altitude will make even walking up a few steps difficult for the first 48 hours.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1860727

[paparush]

9. Heliarc, don't know when you were there, but...

There is now a switchback road leading up to Machupichu from Aquas Callientes. Tour buses run starting at 5:30 am.

You can see the switchback road here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rushwebalbum/Peru2007/photo#5123230571059902946

[heliarc]

11. I was there a few years ago...

So details escape me. But I remember having at least a few hours alone with the ruins. Alone is relative, but it was pleasantly vacant when we arrived.

[Judi Lynn]

12. My God. I can see why tears would be a natural reaction to this astonishing vision.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1860727

Through the Sun Gate. I note it looks impossibly golden, of course. It would seem unavoidably life-altering on a huge scale.

By the way, if you know of anyone's travel account of that trip, please don't hesitate to add it to this thread for those of us who may not be able to get there any time soon, if ever.

I'd dearly love to read more and more about this place, about the trip, the people, and Cusco's relationship to this site, etc.

[paparush]

8. Machupichu in 'clear' view is kind of relative...

When we reached the Sun Gate (up at 3:40 am. Breakfast. Break camp. Quick jaunt to the park checkpoint which opened at 5:00 am. In the park at 5:10 am. Arrive 6:30 am at the Sun Gate after a very fast 1 hour 20 minute hike) we could indeed look down on Machupichu. Which was a miracle. The western side of the valley was completely shrouded in clouds. We couldn't see 20 yards down that side. Luckily, on the eastern side, the valley was veiled, but not shrouded. Took some relatively clear pictures. As we hiked down, the clouds and rain rolled in. By the time we were really "in" Machupichu, visibility was crap and the buses had been running up the mountain from Aquas Callientes for two hours so the park was already crawling with people by 7:30 am. By 11:00 am, the place was nuts and we were headed down the mountain.

In all, the trek itself, the journey, was more than the destination. Our group was 11. Three of us from the USA (me, my wife, and our 12 year old son). A couple from Leeds, England. Two women from Denmark. Two women from Holland. A newlywed couple from Portugal. Our group was Awesome. To arrive in Machupichu with our group after 3.5 days of hard climbing, stomach bugs, banged knees, dirty, tired, stinking, up before the crack of dawn, was incredible. I feel like we have new friends that we'll keep a long time.

Your welcome to browse a sampling of the pix I took:

Cusco and the Inca Trail:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rushwebalbum/Peru2007

Puno, Isla Tequile, Arequipa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rushwebalbum/PunoIslaTequileArequipa

[heliarc]

10. For the locals its a breeze...

I love the memory of the burdened, sandaled hike assistants who make the first day hike in a matter of a couple hours... while you're huffing and puffing your way up the hill all day.

I'm sorry to hear that the bus folks get in early now. I remember our hiking party being the only ones there for at least a couple hours... and there wasn't rain the day we were there. Better luck next time.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Absolutely MUST bookmark this thread to be able to examine these beautiful photos again.

Had never heard of "Isla Tequile" before reading your post.

Your photos do a grand job of showing the overwhelming variety of views of civilizations, physical environemnts, all in one general area.

You've provided the very first photo I've ever seen of the "torch stands" built into the common walls in the ancient city. That really triggers so much more curiosity about the place and what can be learned. Have never seen that level of "up close" images before. You've brought the experience much closer to all of us who've never been there, yet.

Amazing!

[David Zephyr]

6. I am crossing my fingers for Bolivia. Come on, Chile: Do the right thing!

Wow!

This is the best story in the news today! Thank you for giving my heart cheer. Bolivia needs and deserves its sovereignty to the Pacific.

Peru has done the admirable thing! Arriba Peru! Arriba Bolivia! Now come through, Chile.

[robcon]

14. The idea that PERU would approve a route THROUGH CHILE...

is a long way from Chile approving a route through Chile.

[Xithras]

17. Yep, kinda like Mexico giving Canada permission to build a port in Texas.

It's nice that Peru won't object to Bolivia taking over some of the territories that Peru lost to Chile, but honestly the ONLY opinion that really matters here is the one held by the Chilean government. It's their land now.

[Judi Lynn]

15. DU'ers may recall Michelle Bachelet discussed Bolivia's sea access

during her Presidential campaign:

Bachelet May Open Sea Route for Bolivia

Jun 28, 2005, 07:51

Santiago de Chile, Jun 27 (Prensa Latina) An eventual government of socialist Michelle Bachelet, who is the favourite candidate to take power in December, would tackle the Bolivian demand for access to the sea, Socialist party sources reported Monday.

In line with the historical stance of Chilean socialist party members, the foreign policy program of the former Defense Minister states the need for maintaining a comprehensive dialogue with Bolivia.

"Talks would include all bilateral relations topics, even those necessary conditions to facilitate the access of our neighbouring country to the Pacific Ocean," local media quoted socialist presidential candidate as saying.

The initiatives are in line with Bachelet´s intentions to consider the conflicting relations with her neighboring nations, with a strategic purpose in her regional policy.

In fact, Bachelet has requested to set up an inter-ministerial commission to study all kinds of links with Argentina, Peru and Bolivia and head towards the implementation of good neighboring policies.

http://www.ciudadnet.com/paises/publish/printer_32.shtml

[robcon]

19. In other words, Bachelet doesn't have an opinion...

and she doesn't have a plan.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Here's an interesting description of the problem as it stood under different "management," in 1975!

Chile is not entirely opposed to giving Bolivia land. In 1975, Augusto Pinochet tried to negotiate a land transfer to Bolivia of a 10km-wide corridor of Chilean territory. But Peru prevented it. Under a peace treaty signed in 1929, Chile cannot give up any of its former Peruvian territories (such as the area in question).

President Lagos stressed on Thursday that Chile's hands were tied due to the international treaty, which must be respected. Senior officials in the Chilean government have quietly said that Peru will never concede, because it does not want to lose its border with Chile, for strategic reasons. And Peru had been silent on the issue, until late on Thursday. In response to Lagos's comments, Carlos Ferrera Costa, the president of Peru's ministerial council, said Peru will allow a sea passage for Bolivia. Checkmate. Now Chile will need to find a new excuse for its opposition, such as fears of narcotrafficking through a sovereign Bolivian port. Or it will be forced to put its cards on the table about how it really feels about a Bolivian sea.
(snip/...)

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article72936.ece

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you see, conditions change continuously! How cool would it to believe this time something could be arranged to help Bolivia, after losing it's vital contact with the sea 100 years ago.