PERUVIANS POSITIVE ON FM/MOD TALKS WITH CHILE

UNCLAS LIMA 004287 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PE SUBJECT: PERUVIANS POSITIVE ON FM/MOD TALKS WITH CHILE ¶1. (U) FM Garcia and MOD Wagner,s October meeting with their Chilean counterparts in Santiago received favorable press coverage from leading media outlets in Peru. In particular, the press reacted positively to the announcement that Peru and Chile would create a joint peace-keeping force. The force would serve on humanitarian missions abroad and de-mine the border between the two countries. ¶2. (U) Despite the overall positive reaction, some press accounts criticized Chile,s plan to continue arms purchases. The press also criticized the GOP for not raising Peru's maritime boundary dispute with Chile. A recent poll for Lima daily "El Comercio" indicated that over 70% of Peruvians believe this to be their country's top bilateral issue with their southern neighbor. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: In a short time, the Garcia Administration has improved relations with Chile and reduced much of the animosity and overheated rhetoric that often figured in discussions of Peru-Chile issues in the past. We expect the momentum towards stronger bilateral ties to continue, punctuated by occasional anti-Chilean polemics in the popular press. STRUBLE