On 24 April 2013, Bolivia instituted proceedings against Chile at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) aiming to regain a sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, which they lost after the end of the War of the Pacific (1883).

Last March, the UN court held six public hearings to ponder both countries’ arguments.

Bolivia says Chile “has the obligation to negotiate”.

This Monday at 1pm GMT, 10am Chile time, the dispute will reach an end, as the World Court is ready to deliver its ruling on the border conflict.

If the outcome favours Bolivia, it would mean that Chile would have to negotiate in good terms a way for the Andean nation to access the sea with sovereignty.

On the contrary, if the CIJ estimates that there is no obligation, Chile would be able to reassert its position and simply keep offering the benefits already granted: free access to ports, for instance.

Notwithstanding, the CIJ can only rule on the existance of an obligation by Chile, but it cannot force the country to cede land, modify its borders, determine the outcome of talks nor go against treaties signed before its creation, in 1948.

On Saturday, nonetheless, before boarding the presidential plane to travel to The Netherlands, Morales said that his country will not stop seeking an access to the sea.

“Our claim cannot and should not be considered as an unfriendly act, but as an opportunity that allows us to meet again. We are neighbours and siblings with a common destiny”, the leader said before taking off.

On 17 September he also stated that their reunion with the sea “is not only possible but inevitable” and invited Chile’s Sebastián Piñera to find “ways of understanding, to heal wounds opened over a hundred years ago”.

Bolivia’s new Constitution estipulates that every head of State must safeguard the country’s interests in relation to the sea. If they fail to do so, they can be impeached.

Piñera’s response came swiftly and he took to Twitter to assure that he will defend the country’s territory, sea and sovereignty.

“Honourable countries respect the treaties they sign”, he wrote, referring to the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which established the current borders.

For Bolivia, that agreement resulted in the loss of almost 400 kilometers of coastline and around 110 thousand square kilometers of land.

Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position is set in stone. “Our country has always been ready to talk without compromising sovereign territory”, they stated Sunday.

“Chile has always respected international law and the limits set in the Treaty of 1904. The sovereign territory of our country is not a matter of negotiation”, they added.

“This treaty is in force and must be respected by both countries. Chile respects it and will respect it. Therefore: Chile’s sovereign territory will not be negotiated”, the ministry insisted.