MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001475 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL STATE FOR INR/R/MR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) On July 11, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) carried an editorial entitled, "International Criminal Court." Quote: "The GOC's desire to adhere to the Rome Statute that creates the International Criminal Court and the warning made by the U.S. Ambassador on the possible effect of a law in his country on this matter, forces us to look at this issue.... The reference made by the White House representative to the America Service Members Protection Act (Aspa) means that military training -- important because of our aircraft acquisitions -- could suffer, as could our supply of spare parts.... We also could become non-eligible for the purchase of decommissioned material. But the first restriction would be eliminated by an amendment that the U.S. Senate is considering and the restrictions affecting other areas could be resolved through negotiations, all in the framework of our good diplomatic relations. But as long as this does not occur, our authorities should not speed up the constitutional reform for the congressional approval of the treaty. The political will to adhere to the Rome Statute has been clearly expressed by Chile, but there is no urgency for it." YAMAUCHI