MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002595 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL STATE FOR INR/R/MR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) On December 29, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000) carried a column by Flacso-Chile think- tank director Claudio Fuentes entitled, "Chile and U.S. Interests." Quote: "The Senate's discussion and passage of the treaty creating the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been postponed.... Those who finally make the decision in Chile on how to proceed must consider the following: first, Chile's greatest foreign policy asset is the strength of its respect for international law and multilateral principles; second, many countries before Chile have ratified the Rome Treaty without yielding to U.S. pressure to grant its citizens special status.... Chile should appear in the company of those countries, especially in Latin America; third, the possible consequences are minor, amounting to USD15 million and referring only to counter-terrorism, narcotics trafficking, AIDS, and military educational exchange programs. The U.S. is the country with the most to lose. Southcom commander General Craddock said the U.S. was losing contact and interoperability with a full generation of officers just as China enters the region due to this policy.... By rejecting U.S. demands for immunity, Chile would strengthen its international foreign policy stature. The White House should realize that by respecting the position of its southern partner, it would free itself of the negative consequences of retaliation." KELLY