Representatives of the two countries met with ICJ President Ronny Abraham on Tuesday in the Hague, Netherlands, to define the timetable and actions for the second round of the hearing requested by the two countries.

ICJ chaired a hearing concerning maritime claim process between Bolivia and Chile in May 2015. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Bolivian official Rodriguez Veltzé said the specific date for the second round is in the hands of the ICJ and will be known in the coming days. Chilean agent José Miguel Insulza said the meeting was perfectly normal and smooth with no conflict concerning deadlines or procedures to be followed. The full hearing could be concluded by 2018, he added.

On April 24th, 2013, La Paz filed an appeal with the ICJ requesting access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to Chile in a war between the two countries in the 19^th century. Bolivian President Evo Morales made this issue a core issue of his foreign policy.