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'The sea is ours': landlocked Bolivia hopes court will reopen path to Pacific | 'The sea is ours': landlocked Bolivia hopes court will reopen path to Pacific |
(2 months later) | |
Sailors patrol a rigging-clad naval headquarters in La Paz. Public buildings fly an ocean-blue flag. Naval bases from Lake Titicaca to the Amazon are daubed with the motto: “The sea is ours by right. To recover it is a duty.” | Sailors patrol a rigging-clad naval headquarters in La Paz. Public buildings fly an ocean-blue flag. Naval bases from Lake Titicaca to the Amazon are daubed with the motto: “The sea is ours by right. To recover it is a duty.” |
Throughout landlocked Bolivia, the memory of a coastline lost to Chile in a bloody 19th-century resource conflict is still vivid – as is the yearning to sail the Pacific Ocean once more. | Throughout landlocked Bolivia, the memory of a coastline lost to Chile in a bloody 19th-century resource conflict is still vivid – as is the yearning to sail the Pacific Ocean once more. |
Those hopes are perhaps at their highest in decades, as Bolivia awaits a ruling by the international court of justice on 1 October after five years of deliberations. | Those hopes are perhaps at their highest in decades, as Bolivia awaits a ruling by the international court of justice on 1 October after five years of deliberations. |
Bolivia's landlocked sailors pine for the high seas | |
“Bolivia has the momentum, a spirit of unity and serenity, and is of course expecting with a positive view the outcome,” said Roberto Calzadilla, a Bolivian diplomat. | “Bolivia has the momentum, a spirit of unity and serenity, and is of course expecting with a positive view the outcome,” said Roberto Calzadilla, a Bolivian diplomat. |
Many Bolivians will watch the ICJ ruling on big screens across the country, hopeful that the tribunal in The Hague will find in favour of Bolivia’s claim that – after decades of fitful talks – Chile is obliged to negotiate granting Bolivia a sovereign outlet to the sea. | Many Bolivians will watch the ICJ ruling on big screens across the country, hopeful that the tribunal in The Hague will find in favour of Bolivia’s claim that – after decades of fitful talks – Chile is obliged to negotiate granting Bolivia a sovereign outlet to the sea. |
Evo Morales, Bolivia’s charismatic indigenous president – who faces a controversial battle for re-election next year – also has plenty riding on Monday’s ruling. “We are very close to returning to the Pacific Ocean,” he vowed in late August. | Evo Morales, Bolivia’s charismatic indigenous president – who faces a controversial battle for re-election next year – also has plenty riding on Monday’s ruling. “We are very close to returning to the Pacific Ocean,” he vowed in late August. |
But some analysts believe that the court is unlikely to decide in Bolivia’s favour – and that little would change if it did. The Netherlands-based UN body has no power to award Chilean territory, and has stipulated that it will not determine the outcome of possible talks. | But some analysts believe that the court is unlikely to decide in Bolivia’s favour – and that little would change if it did. The Netherlands-based UN body has no power to award Chilean territory, and has stipulated that it will not determine the outcome of possible talks. |
That the ICJ’s ruling comes only six months after the final arguments were heard indicates the case “wasn’t complicated”, said Paz Zárate, a Chilean expert in international law. And far from furthering Bolivia’s cause, the past four years may have set it back. | That the ICJ’s ruling comes only six months after the final arguments were heard indicates the case “wasn’t complicated”, said Paz Zárate, a Chilean expert in international law. And far from furthering Bolivia’s cause, the past four years may have set it back. |
“The issue of access to the sea has been hijacked by the current Bolivian administration,” said Zárate. Morales’s belligerent rhetoric has sapped any residual Chilean goodwill, she suggested. | “The issue of access to the sea has been hijacked by the current Bolivian administration,” said Zárate. Morales’s belligerent rhetoric has sapped any residual Chilean goodwill, she suggested. |
“Bolivia and Chile will at some point continue to talk … [but] it will be extremely difficult to hold discussions after this.” | “Bolivia and Chile will at some point continue to talk … [but] it will be extremely difficult to hold discussions after this.” |
The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors since 1962. | The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors since 1962. |
Former president Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, Bolivia’s representative at The Hague, rejected the idea that the court’s decision-making was unusually speedy. | Former president Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, Bolivia’s representative at The Hague, rejected the idea that the court’s decision-making was unusually speedy. |
Monday will bring Bolivia “an extraordinary opportunity to open a new era of relations with Chile” and a chance to “put an end to 139 years of disagreements with mutual benefits”, he said. | Monday will bring Bolivia “an extraordinary opportunity to open a new era of relations with Chile” and a chance to “put an end to 139 years of disagreements with mutual benefits”, he said. |
Calzadilla also denied that Morales – still one of Latin America’s most popular presidents – was using the maritime issue as a political crutch. | Calzadilla also denied that Morales – still one of Latin America’s most popular presidents – was using the maritime issue as a political crutch. |
“Bolivia will never give up its right to have access to the Pacific Ocean,” he added. “The ruling is an opportunity to see that we need to overcome the past.” | “Bolivia will never give up its right to have access to the Pacific Ocean,” he added. “The ruling is an opportunity to see that we need to overcome the past.” |
Bolivia | Bolivia |
Chile | Chile |
Americas | Americas |
International court of justice | International court of justice |
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