CHILE: AWARE OF MANPADS SEMINAR, WELCOMES FUNDING

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