Peru and Chile have overcome their differences and normalized relations, Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said Monday in Lima.

The Peruvian leader told reporters that he discussed the crisis over the bilateral relations with his Chilean counterpart Ricardo Lagos in a phone conversation.

Ties between the two countries were strained due to Chile's alleged arms sale to Ecuador when it was at war with Peru in 1995. Chile denied the allegations, saying it just sent ammunitions to Ecuador according to bilateral negotiations before the war.

The differences have been overcome "with the apologies of the Chilean government," the Peruvian president said. "We have to look ahead now in the bilateral relations," said Toledo.

A bilateral meeting between foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, which was once canceled by Lima due to the above mentioned dispute, would be held early June, he said.

The Peruvian leader also expressed his sympathies to Lagos over the death of Chilean soldiers during a snowstorm in the Andes last week.

Source: Xinhua