Chile prepared to resume diplomatic ties with Bolivia: FM
The Chilean government said on Tuesday that it was prepared to resume diplomatic ties with Bolivia but ruled out any possibility to give Bolivia sea access.

Chile was prepared to resume diplomatic relations with Bolivia "at the highest level," Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker said.

While expressing Chile's willingness to deepen its economic, social and cultural integration with Bolivia, the minister said however that "Bolivia does not have a right to have sovereign access to the sea."

"We understand that Bolivia has an aspiration to have sovereignsea access," he said, noting that the border dispute between the two countries was "solved in 1904, 101 years ago."

Chile's statement came as an answer to Monday's remarks by Bolivian President Carlos Mesa that Chile shall respond to Bolivia's demand for sea access.

Chile and Bolivia broke off full diplomatic ties in 1978 over the border issue but have maintained consular relations.

Bolivia lost its coastline in a 1879-1883 war with Chile and has since kept demanding the recovery of its access to the PacificOcean. Meanwhile, Chile, always refusing Bolivia's demand, said a bilateral treaty signed in 1904 solved all territorial problems between the two countries.