MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001391

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
AMEMBASSY FOR PAO, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY



1. On June 29, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) carried a column by international
commentator Karin Ebensperger entitled, "Abuse of Power."


2. "Chile must not support Venezuela's bid for the UNSC. The
Council's role is to uphold world peace. Hugo Chavez, far from
contributing to peace in his own region, has created tensions by
using his enormous petroleum revenues to intervene in others'
electoral processes.... This is not about stigmatizing Chavez for
looking for a different model with which to govern his country. It
is about asking ourselves if Venezuela, ruled by Chavez, would
contribute to world peace. Chavez has shown an enormous ambition to
influence the region and no vocation to respect the sovereignty of
others. International law and the United Nations have been created
to limit power to prevent the trampling of weak nations by stronger
ones. That is what Chavez fails to realize: that by interfering in
other countries he is...abusing power. The rationale behind
international law and international organizations is the avoidance
of the proliferation of those of Chavez' ilk worldwide.... The
prestige in which Chile is held for upholding international law is
an achievement of all its governments throughout history, which is
why supporting Venezuela for the Security Council does not fit."

KELLY