MEDIA REACTION - UNITED NATIONS AND CHILEAN VOTE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001047 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - UNITED NATIONS AND CHILEAN VOTE ¶1. Summary: On May 16, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 31,834) ran an interview with Foreign Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley upon his return from the European Union-Latin American Summit in Vienna. In that interview, Foxley talks about Chile's vote to elect United Nations Human Rights Council members, the International Criminal Court and Chile's bilateral relationships. End Summary. ¶2. United Nations Security Council and Chile's vote: "We have not yet made a decision. Presidents Chavez and Bachelet did not discuss the issue in their 90-minute meeting, which means there is no formal request.... Our criteria are to vote for countries the international community positively evaluates on human rights.... Chile is not a big country and has to manage itself well and with respect for everyone." ¶3. Asked whether Chile's reluctance to reveal its vote in United Nations reflects "fear" of the United States: "We are not afraid of the United States. We have good relations and hope that this continues to be the case.... We may disagree on some issues, such as Iraq, but the United States must understand that friendship is not unconditional." ¶4. Asked about concern that Chile's position on the International Criminal Court would create conflict with the U.S.: "We will continue to move forward with the (ICC) vote in Congress.... We hope the United States understands that we are friends and that we have the right--as any sovereign nation with a strong democracy--to approve specific legislation and that it does not have the right to veto what the Chilean Congress approves. It would be absurd for the U.S. to sanction any country it has used as an example." KELLY