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Tuesday, October 27, 1998 Published at 01:29 GMT World: Americas Peru and Ecuador sign border treaty Protests in Peru over the border deal have left three dead Ecuador and Peru's presidents have formally signed a peace deal, ending a border dispute that has lasted for almost 60 years.
It will also allow Peru and Ecuador, two of South America's poorest nations, to save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in defence spending.
The ceremony in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, was witnessed by foreign digitaries including King Juan Carlos of Spain, the presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and officials from the United States and the Vatican. The treaty establishes the frontier along the summit of the Condor mountains in a remote Amazonian region.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan "warmly welcomed" the agreement and commended Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the US for "their invaluable role'' in brokering the deal. President Bill Clinton added: "This signing marks the end of the last and longest running source of armed international conflict in the Western hemisphere." The Inter-American Development Bank has already promised to loan Peru and Ecuador $500 million for cross-border projects in the wake of the deal. Thomas McLarty, head of the US delegation at the border talks, said peace was essential to South America's economic recovery. "You clearly cannot have long-term growth and prosperity involving foreign investment without stability," he added. Dozens killed in border clashes The 80km-long stretch of Amazon jungle has been the subject of extensive talks in the past.
Tensions were high again in August when troops were just 40 metres apart. That intensified diplomatic efforts to end the dispute, which traces its roots to the period when South America kicked out Spain. In October, Mr Mahuad and his Peruvian counterpart Alberto Fujimori asked Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the US to impose a settlement. The coalition set the border along the peaks of the Condor mountain range, confirming Peru's historical claims, and also decided to grant Ecuador rights over the area called Tiwinzta. Tiwintza is a highly emotional symbol to Ecuador because its troops defended it successfully against assaults by Peruvian troops during their last border war. Three dead in protests over deal But there have been protests in both countries against the surrender of sovereign territory. In northern Peru four people have been killed in demonstrations. There has also been disappointment in Ecuador that the majority of territorial claims have been denied.
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