Chile Ministry Formally Answers Peru Espionage Allegations

Chile Ministry Formally Answers Peru Espionage Allegations


SANTIAGO -(Dow Jones)- Chile's Foreign Affairs Ministry handed Peruvian authorities a formal response Tuesday to Peru's accusations Chile has been spying on its neighbor.

Peruvian authorities recently detained a Peruvian military officer, alleging he had spied for neighboring Chile, increasing tensions between the two nations- -which are currently disputing a shared maritime border.

Through diplomatic channels, the Ministry sent its Peruvian counterpart a " verbal note" in which it said that Chile will carry out a "careful study" of documents sent by Peru as evidence of the alleged espionage. Chile's Foreign Ministry, however, does not mention whether a formal investigation will be launched. The results will be sent to Peru once the study is finished, the ministry said in a statement.

Last week Peru's foreign relations minister, García Belaunde, said that if Chile doesn't "investigate" the supposed case of espionage "the whole of the two countries' ties would be evaluated." Some members of Peru's Parliament have asked for the bilateral trade agreement with Chile to be revoked.

The Chilean response also states that the tone of Peru's allegations aren't conducive to "the constructive spirit in which bilateral relations should be conducted."

Relations between the two countries had already been especially cool this year because of increased Chilean arms purchases, and Peru's demands at the International Court of Justice at The Hague over a maritime border Chile considers its own.

-By Anthony Esposito, Dow Jones Newswires;