Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales on Monday invited Chile's president and his successor to his inauguration in a conciliatory gesture to the neighboring country after 30 years of no diplomatic ties, Reuters reported. Leftist Morales, who will be sworn in as Bolivia's first indigenous president on Jan. 22, congratulated socialist Michelle Bachelet on her victory in Chile's vote on Sunday and said he hoped outgoing Chilean President Ricardo Lagos would also attend his inaugural ceremony. "If they do come, it would really be a historic moment to open a dialogue about historic, economic and commercial matters," Morales told reporters in La Paz. Landlocked Bolivia wants Chile to restore its access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to the Chileans during a war in the 19th century. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1978. If Lagos accepts the invitation, it will be the first time a Chilean president has attended the inauguration of a Bolivian counterpart. However, a presidential spokesman in the Chilean capital said no decision had yet been taken by Lagos. "This is a decision the president will make and it will be announced when he makes it," the spokesman said, adding that the Senate would have to authorize the visit if Lagos decided to attend. Asked whether she would attend Morales' inauguration, Bachelet told reporters in Santiago she had not yet decided what trips she would make before taking office in March.
