Bolivia Thankful for Support in Ocean Access Dispute With Chile - Official

Bolivia thanks the international community and organizations which have expressed their support for the country's sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, currently being disputed with Chile, Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca told Sputnik in an interview.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — After the Chilean-Bolivian war in the late 19th century, Bolivia lost access to the Pacific Ocean, although the country still has Naval Force, including a marine infantry unit. In 2013, Bolivia filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, asking the court to bring Chile to the negotiating table for Bolivian access to the Pacific.

"We would like to thank the international community, international organizations, the Organization of American States itself, who have expressed through various means, including resolutions, that Bolivia has sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean," the minister said.

In September, the ICJ dismissed a Chilean claim that the court had no jurisdiction in the issue, ensuring that the case will be heard.

"In the last stage, because Chile closed itself off to dialogue, we came to the Hague, then Chile said that the Hague had no jurisdiction… but soon the ICJ declared that it had jurisdiction," the minister added.

Both countries began talks on the return of sea access in 2007, during the tenure of then Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, but talks came to a deadlock in 2011 when Bolivia warned Chile about its intentions to file the claim to The Hague.

Court proceedings are expected to take at least 1.5-2 years.