Chile President Annoyed At `Meddling` Fidel Castro

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday she was annoyed at 'meddling' comments by former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who wrote in an article that Chile snatched Bolivia's only sea access in the 19th century.

The issue, dating back to the War of the Pacific, has long been a wedge between Chile and landlocked Bolivia, which still do not have full diplomatic ties. Bolivian President Evo Morales had applauded Castro's comments.

Castro went on to question whether a swathe of far northern Chile, rich in copper, really belonged to Chile or Bolivia.

"With the same frankness and clarity with which we discussed the future agenda with President Raul Castro, I told President Castro of my annoyance at the erroneous declarations in an article after my courtesy visit to see the former ruler of Cuba," Bachelet told reporters on landing back in Chile after her visit to the island.

"I signaled, as our country has always signaled, that we do not accept meddling by third parties either in domestic affairs or bilateral issues, and that Chile and Bolivia discuss alone issues which correspond to both countries," she added.

Fidel Castro published a second article on Saturday, in which he said he had not intended to offend Bachelet by referring to the long-standing border dispute, and accused Chile's "oligarchs" of seeking to create trouble.

"I received the Chilean head of state with total respect," 82-year-old Castro wrote. "I did not use a single word that could offend the illustrious visitor. That would be nonsensical."

"I was pretty moderate in saying that it was not clear whether those minerals belonged to Chileans or Bolivians. It was a diplomatic way of expressing the realities," he said.

In his earlier column, Castro did not mince his words.

"Bolivia suffered an extraordinary, historic humiliation in that battle. Not only was its coastline and sea access snatched, but (Bolivia) was also denied ... extensive territory rich in copper and which form the biggest reserve (of that metal) in the world."

Bachelet's rebuke came a day after Chile's presidency posted photographs of her with Fidel Castro on its website, showing the former Cuban leader smiling and in apparently good health.

Castro had surgery for an undisclosed intestinal ailment in July 2006 and has stayed out of sight since then except for a few photos and videos in which he has at times appeared frail.