Embattled Peruvian president opens new front

[bemildred]

Given the growing political tension with Peru, because of the alleged weapons sales to Ecuador during the “Condor war” in the nineties, the Chilean government decided Wednesday to temporarily freeze military contacts between both countries.

In a joint release Chile’s Foreign Affairs and Defence ministries announced that the country’s naval school tall mast vessel, “Esmeralda” will not be calling in El Callao and the visit next Sunday to Peru of Army Commander in Chief General Juan Emilio Cheyre had been cancelled. Earlier in the day an influential Lima newspaper had anticipated the news. The release also calls on Peruvian authorities to resume dialogue in the framework of the 2 plus 2 mechanism (both countries ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence).

“The government of Chile, given the trust and friendship links existent between both nations invited the government of Peru to establish a dialogue, in the framework of the existent mechanism for that purpose of 2 plus 2”.

Relations between the South American Pacific neighbours have strained following the revelation by a former Ecuadorian military officer that Chile had sold weapons to Ecuador during the so called “Condor War” between January and February 1995.

MercoPress