UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001075

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ECON APEC CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: AWARE OF MANPADS SEMINAR, WELCOMES FUNDING
OFFER

REF: STATE 80032


1. Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Luis Plaza, Special
Policies Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on
May 18, noting the registration deadline of May 22. Plaza
said the GOC had received the invitation to the APEC
Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) Vulnerability
Seminar "several weeks ago." He had forwarded the invitation
and information to both the Chilean Air Force (FACH) and the
Director General for Civil Aviation (DGAC). Plaza noted that
the U.S. offer of funding support was new, as the original
invitation stated no APEC funds would be available.


2. Poloff explained that the USG had decided to provide
funding to encourage attendance and ensure APEC economies
could benefit from this training. Once the Chilean
delegation completed its participation, Post would work with
the GOC to reimburse up to USD 2,500 of incurred travel and
lodging expenses.


3. Plaza said he would contact the FACH and DGAC with the
U.S. offer of funding support for participation in the
seminar. He committed to inform both APEC and Post as soon
as the GOC determined who was participating in the seminar.
KELLY