Peru begins mapping new border with Chile

AFP/Lima

The move came as the Chilean Senate described the decision as “arbitrary” and lacking “any legal basis,” during a special session held to analyse the scope of the measure.

The Hague-based International Court of Justice confirmed Chile’s sovereignty over waters up to 80 nautical miles (92 land miles, 148kms) from the coast on Monday but handed Lima a large swathe of less lucrative ocean beyond that limit.

“The Navy of Peru began mapping work, after learning of the Hague ruling on the delimitation of the maritime boundary with Chile,” cabinet chief Cesar Villanueva said.

“We’ve got to do a lot of checking and co-ordinating but not necessarily negotiating or forming commissions” with Chile, Villanueva said, concerning the process.

Chile says the ruling means that Peru’s claim to a 200 nautical mile territorial sea limit is no longer valid and must amend its laws to reflect that.

While Peru would have exclusive economic rights out to 200 nautical miles, Chile says it would have freedom of movement in waters beyond the UN-set 24 nautical mile territorial sea limit.

Villanueva said that Peruvian law “must merely be adjusted without there being a need for issuing special rules.”

Judges drew a line from a point 80 nautical miles off Chile’s northern border running southwest into the Pacific until it reached almost 200 nautical miles of Chile’s coast, handing Peru the part of the ocean north of the line.

Villanueva reported that he plans to send research vessels to the area and to conduct operations in conjunction with Peru’s Ministry of Production and Sea Institute.

Implementation of Monday’s decision would be difficult if the two countries do not voluntarily adhere to and respect the ruling.

According to international political analysts Alejandro Deustua and Farid Kahhat, the decision does not include mechanisms to compel compliance.

“The court, by being general, has left gaps like a lack of co-ordinates to apply the maritime demarcations,” Deustua said. Kahhat said that the court has no way to force the parties to comply with the ruling, but said the two countries have agreed to abide by its decision as “a commitment to honour.”

 “If the parties do not want to abide by the decision, it will be difficult to fulfill,” he said. So far the governments of Peru and Chile have publicly expressed their adherence to The Hague’s decision.