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The Chilean Government has diplomatic relations with most countries, including Cuba. Chile maintains only consular relations with Bolivia; Chile's acquisition of territory during the War of the Pacific ( 1879- 83Events January January 16 The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil service, is passed January 19 The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service ( Roselle, New Jersey) It was built by Thomas E) continues adversely to influence its relations with Bolivia. Chile's association with the MERCOSUR countries in 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan and its continuing interest in hemispheric free trade, as well as its membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic CooperationAPEC can also stand for Atlantic Provinces Economic Council Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC is a group of Pacific Rim countries who meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties. The first meeting was held in Canberra, Australia in grouping, auger well for even closer international economic ties in the future. Politically, Chile has been one of the most active countries in supporting the Summit of the AmericasThe Summit of the Americas is the name for one of a sequence of summits bringing together the countries of the Americas for discussion of a variety of issues. These encounters are organized by a number of multilateral bodies, including the Organization of process, hosting the second Summit of the Americas in SantiagoSantiago (full form Santiago de Chile is the capital of Chile. It is situated in the central valley, in the Metropolitana Region. History Santiago was founded by Pedro de Valdivia on February 12, 1541 with the name Santiago de Nueva Extremadura''. The fou, AprilApril is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 30 days. Derived from the Latin aprilis either from the Latin word aperire which means "to open", probably referring to growing plants in spring, or from the Etruscan name Apru for Aphr 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting.
In 2002 Chile signed an association treaty with the European Union, which contains a free trade agreement, cultural and scientifical cooperation policies, and a political pact.
Principal Government Officials
President-- Ricardo Lagos Escobar
Minister of Foreign Affairs--María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela
Ambassador to the United States--Andrés Bianchi Larre
Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS)--Esteban Tomic Errázuriz
Ambassador to the United Nations--Heraldo Muñoz
Chile maintains an embassy in the United States at:
1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-785-1746
Fax: 202-659-9624
Email: embassy@embassyofchile.org
Website: http://www.chile-usa.org
Disputes - international: Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over water rights for the Lauca and Silala rivers; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; segment of border with Argentina, over southern glaciars (Campos de Hielo) still not delimited.
Illicit drugs: A growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the United States and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising.