Chile and Perú are facing in La Haya

                                                            The disputed area

This week began arguments between Chile and Peru in the International Court in La Haya product of maritime conflict that pits two countries. The first step has been followed closely by media Chilean and Peruvian, while much of the population still does not fully understand the conflict. What seeks ultimately to Peru?

by Williamson Catalán Maldonado

In 1952 Peru, Ecuador and Chile agreed that their maritime boundaries would be subject to their respective parallel border. The treaty is known as Santiago Declaration on the Maritime Zone, and two years afterwards the three parties signed the Convention on Maritime Border Special Zone, which ratified the old covenant. However, the current lawsuit of Peru at the Hague tribunal holds that the maritime boundary with Chile should be equidistant from the border pillar of Tacna, and that means displace the limit several miles south.

When in 2005, Peru enacted “Ley de Línea Base”, the point 266 was established as the end of the land border. Being further south than the Milestone 1, hitherto land border limit, Peru claims that the 16 thousand square meters that make up this new area belongs. Peruvian demand, then, is to set the maritime border with a line equidistant from the border; sovereignty over those 16 thousand square meters to claim as their own; and sea area Chile outside that Peru also recognizes his.

On December 12, Peru will complete the oral arguments, while Chile will do the same on 14. The results, in turn, will be known in July 2013, in a ruling that seeks to end a dispute that has been developing for years.