Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said on Thursday that he would
like to resume diplomatic relations with Bolivia before leaving
office on March 11.
The two countries have lacked diplomatic relations since the
1970s because of Bolivia's continued demands for access to the
Pacific Ocean through Chilean territory. Bolivia lost its sea
outlet in an 1880s war.
"We tried to resolve this problem. Let us hope that it can be
sorted out with the efforts we are making at present, because it
looks like one way to speak seriously about resuming diplomatic
relations," Lagos told Chilean radio in an interview on
Thursday.
Lagos also said he would join a United Nations panel for reform,
initiated by Secretary General Kofi Annan, after handing over power
to Michelle Bachelet, Chile's first woman president.
He went on to say that the panel would focus on economic
development linked to environmental sustainability. He also hoped
defences against natural disasters coould be improved.
Lagos is be the only Latin American member of the panel.
Lagos sent letters to all Group-8 countries calling upon them to
tackle the greenhouse effect promptly.
Chile is one of the promoters of a planned law to protect the
ozone layer, the president said.
He is also due to assume the presidency of the Madrid Club, a
grouping of around 100 former leaders of the country on March
27.
Lagos also thanked Chile's citizens for the support he had
received during his leadership, adding that in his opinion they
approved of his rule.
Lagos, whose six-year term ends on March 11, will be succeeded
by Bachelet, Chile's first woman president following an
election.
(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)
