Chilean President Ricardo Lagos expressed his hope on Monday that the sensitive relations with Peru would not deteriorate because of Peruvian ex-president Alberto Fujimori's arrival in Chile.

"Chile-Peru relations are already in crisis since Peru unilaterally established a law on maritime demarcation between the two countries recently," Lagos told a news conference after meeting with visiting Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur. "We hope Fujimori would not bring new factors to worsen the relations."

Fujimori, facing over 20 criminal charges in Peru, was arrested early on Monday by Chilean police following his surprise arrival in Santiago from Japan on Sunday. The 67-year-old former leader said he was on the way to launch a campaign for the Peruvian election next April.

The arrest was ordered by Chilean Supreme Court Justice Orlando Alvarez upon the request of the Peruvian government. The two countries have not reached agreement on Fujimoli's fate. Peru pressed for extradition while the Chilean government considered certain legal procedures should be run, which would take two months, estimated by Alvarez.

Fujimoli, born in Peru to Japanese immigrants and was president from 1990 to 2000, fled Peru in November 2000 after a corruption scandal toppled his government.

Fujimoli's fate does not lie in the hands of the Chilean government, said Lagos, but depends on the ruling of Chilean Supreme Court based on evidences provided by the Peruvian government. Chile respects the individuality of the justice, said he.

Last week, the Peruvian congress approved a bill on maritime demarcation with Chile, a step towards better access to rich Pacific Ocean fishing waters, which strained relations with Santiago.

Source: Xinhua