Both Chile and Bolivia have begun to present their cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The case involves the historic conflict between the two nations resulting in Bolivia’s lack of access to the sea. Bolivian President Evo Morales has said that whatever the Court’s verdict, it must be respected. Bolivia shares borders with five countries but only disputes the demarcation of its border with Chile. It lost its coastline after the War of the Pacific from 1879 to 1883. In April 2013 the Bolivian government presented a case against Chile at the International Court of Justice, while Chile has challenged the jurisdiction of the Court. Since losing control of its coastline, Bolivia has become the second landlocked country in South America. Landlocked developing countries trade 30% less than coastal countries. As a result of transportation costs, Bolivian exports are 56% more expensive than those of Chile, and 60% more expensive than those from Peru. teleSUR
