World Court settles sea dispute between Chile and Peru

The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled that Chile and Peru should split sovereignty over an area of sea the size of Sri Lanka off their coast, settling a dispute that stems from a war 130 years ago.

The judges recognised the existing maritime border that runs directly west from the land border for 148 milometres, said the court's president Peter Tomka. After that, the new border runs south-west to a point that is 370 milometres equidistant from the cost of the two countries.

Peru had claimed sovereignty over 66,680 square kilometres of rich fishing waters off the two neighbours' Pacific coast. Chile has exercised sovereignty over 57 per cent of the area closest to its coastline and considered the remainder as high seas. Under yesterday's ruling, Chile's loses control over part of that territory.

The disputed zone includes one of the world's richest fishing grounds, with an annual catch of US$200 million estimated by Peru's fishing industry.

But, for many, the case launched in 2008 by Peru was a matter of national pride. Chile seized its three northernmost provinces during the 1879-83 War of the Pacific from Peru and Bolivia, which lost its only coast in the conflict.

Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia, whose government brought the case before the Hague-based court, had urged his countrymen to fly the flag yesterday and employers to let people await the judgment at home.