Bolivian legislators met with their Chilean counterparts in Bolivia's administrative capital of La Paz on Sunday to discuss a wide range of issues, including Bolivia's claim to access to the Pacific Ocean, according to reports from La Paz.
Senator Nelson Avila, head of the Chilean delegation, described the meeting as "people to people... without prejudices."
The meeting was designed to open dialogues and to complement and support the work of the two nations' foreign ministers, he said, adding that Bolivia and Chile have many things that bring them together... "more than those that separate them."
"My mission was to take bold moves to bring the two countries closer," he said.
The two countries broke off diplomatic ties 1978 because of a Bolivian claim to sea access to replace its territory lost during the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific when Bolivia and Peru fought Chile together.
Bilateral relations thawed this year after both countries selected new presidents, who attended each others' inauguration and promised for talks.
Gaston Cornejo from Bolivia's ruling Movement for Socialism party said the meeting followed the outlines set by Bolivian President Evo Morales to boost diplomatic links with Chile.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2006)
