MEDIA REACTION -FTAA

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001446 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -FTAA ¶1. On July 5, conservative, afternoon daily "La Segunda" (circ. 31,834) carried a column by attorney Carolina del Rio, from Diego Portales University, entitled, "The FTA and Industrial Property Regulations." ¶2. "The accusations made by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce against our country are based on complaints by pharmaceutical multinationals against the production and/or sale of certain products in their generic form and the lack of respect for the patents owned by these companies. Large pharmaceutical laboratories invest considerable resources and years of research to develop new products.... It is therefore necessary to respect their right to recover...this investment. It is also legitimate for them to defend themselves every time they believe these rights are violated.... The GOC introduced important changes to IPR law...and today this law complies in general terms with international regulations...but as with any process of this kind there is a period in which the parties involved adjust and begin applying the new regulations. That is what the U.S. companies are demanding through their Chamber of Commerce. It is now Chile's duty to strictly apply the new regulations.... This is part of Chile's accession to the world and that is why it is an issue that must be on the agenda of Chilean authorities and entrepreneurs." KELLY