Bolivian President Evo Morales said Sunday that negotiations between his country and Chile over a claim to sea access are on the right track.
Morales said he met with his Chilean counterpart, Michelle Bachelet, in Chile's capital Santiago when attending the Ibero-American Summit, according to reports from La Paz.
"I want you all to know that this is on the right path so far," he said, adding that the meeting had strengthened mutual confidence.
The president reiterated that a 13-point agenda, agreed at a meeting between the two leaders last year, would be included in the talks for the first time.
"So far we have created trust between presidents, governments and peoples. For any deep negotiation, trust is needed to reach the second phase," Morales said.
He said that at the "People's Summit," a parallel event organized by leftist groups in Santiago, he saw crowds chanting for sea access for Bolivia.
"It made me feel very happy that people are chanting for sea for Bolivia. That is the Chilean people's true feeling and it isn't the first time we have heard it," Morales said.
During a war with Chile in the 19th century, Bolivia lost its access to the Pacific Ocean.
The South American nation, which has demanded sea access ever since, cut off diplomatic relations with Chile in 1978, saying its demand had not been taken seriously.
Source: Xinhua
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