[JURIST] The government of Peru plans to file a complaint against Chile [JURIST news archives] with the International Court of Justice [official website] seeking resolution of the countries' maritime boundary dispute [LA Times report] in November or December, el Comercio reported Monday. While Peruvian Minister of External Relations Jose Antonia Garcia Belaunde informed his Chilean counterpart of the government's decision during the recent session of the UN General Assembly [official website], the news became public on Monday. Belaunde commented that the complaint involves a "technical, legal demand" which should not disrupt bilateral relations between the two countries.

After the ICJ settled a similar dispute [JURIST report] between Nicaragua and Honduras earlier this month, Peruvian officials deemed the ruling a "decisive precedent" which would bolster its own claim. Tensions between the two countries have escalated over a 10,000-mile strip of ocean which Peru claims was ceded to it under 1952 and 1954 treaties; Chile claims that the treaties involved fishing rights only. Chile is expected to reject the jurisdiction of the ICJ [Andina report] in the case. El Comercio has more.