UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001665

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
AMEMBASSY FOR PAO, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - TELESUR

On August 5, conservative, influential "El Mercurio"
(circ. 116,807) ran a column by pundit Andres
Oppenheimer entitled, "Tele-Bush to Stop Tele-Chavez?"
Quote:

"A U.S. TV channel - which would end up being called
Tele-Bush - would be counterproductive, at least while
there still exist remnants of press freedom in
Venezuela. As a frequent CNN political analyst I do not
agree with Chavez' stance that CNN reflects the White
House's opinions.... However, Telesur should be left to
its own fate.... If the U.S. Congress wants to confront
Chavez's financial and propaganda squandering in Latin
America, it would do better to assist Venezuelan daily
"El Universal"...that would be far more effective...and
wouldn't give Chavez a new excuse to remain in power
forever by arguing that he is defending Venezuela from
the claws of `imperialism'."

KELLY