Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said on Thursday that he would like to resume diplomatic relations with Bolivia before leaving office on March 11.

The two countries have lacked diplomatic relations since the 1970s because of Bolivia's continued demands for access to the Pacific Ocean through Chilean territory. Bolivia lost its sea outlet in an 1880s war.

"We tried to resolve this problem. Let us hope that it can be sorted out with the efforts we are making at present, because it looks like one way to speak seriously about resuming diplomatic relations," Lagos told Chilean radio in an interview on Thursday.

Lagos also said he would join a United Nations panel for reform, initiated by Secretary General Kofi Annan, after handing over power to Michelle Bachelet, Chile's first woman president.

He went on to say that the panel would focus on economic development linked to environmental sustainability. He also hoped defences against natural disasters coould be improved.

Lagos is be the only Latin American member of the panel.

Lagos sent letters to all Group-8 countries calling upon them to tackle the greenhouse effect promptly.

Chile is one of the promoters of a planned law to protect the ozone layer, the president said.

He is also due to assume the presidency of the Madrid Club, a grouping of around 100 former leaders of the country on March 27.

Lagos also thanked Chile's citizens for the support he had received during his leadership, adding that in his opinion they approved of his rule.

Lagos, whose six-year term ends on March 11, will be succeeded by Bachelet, Chile's first woman president following an election.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)