Beagle Channel dispute remains unresolved

Press, 4 November 1978, Page 9

Beagle Channel dispute remains unresolved

NZPA-Reuter Santiago Chile and Argentina have failed to reach agreement on a border dispute that, has brought the two South American countries close to. war, according to a Chilean spokesman. He said on the eve of a negotiation deadline that the two sides had been unable to agree on frontier lines in the Beagle Channel area at the barren southernmost tip of the continent. But, the spokesman said, agreement had been reached :on other disputed claims in the Antarctic, the Chilean news agency, Orbe, reports. Military preparations, particularly by Argentina, as I the deadline for the talks; approached, led to fears on

both sides of the Andes that the border dispute could end in hostilities. A mixed commission of A’gent • ■ and Chilean experts delivered its findings yesterday after negotiating for six months. Both sides signed a document on the results of their talks that would be examined by the two Govern-, ments, officials said. Argentina’s chief negotiator, General Ricardo Etcheverrv Boneo, indicated in a statement that the formula permitted further bilateral negotiations, and that a partial settlement had been reached. The differences come after Argentina’s rejection of an International Court ruling; that three small islands in; the Beagle Channel belonged

to Chile and Chile’s subsequent claim to territorial waters stretching into the Atlantic. General Boneo would not say whether there might be a meeting between President Videla of Argentina and President Pinochet of Chile. The talks resulted from an agreement between the two .Presidents to try and solve their territorial differences peacefully. President Videla’s insistence that bilateral negotiations were the only peaceful way of solving the dispute rules out further international arbitration. However. Chile has said it . is prepared to take the matter to the International j Court of Justice in The (Hague if the present talks fail.