CHILE AND MEXICO TO SIGN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000151 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: PREL SOCI CI ME SUBJECT: CHILE AND MEXICO TO SIGN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT DURING PRESIDENT FOX'S VISIT REF: A. 05 SANTIAGO 02469 ¶B. 05 SANTIAGO 02354 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 ( b and d). ¶1. (C) Foreign Ministry North American Affairs Deputy Director Alex Geiger confirmed to Poloff on January 23 that Chile and Mexico would sign "a strategic partnership agreement" during Mexican President Fox's visit to Chile on January 25-26. Geiger, who earlier had characterized the accord as an "umbrella agreement" that would allow Chile and Mexico to build upon a free trade agreement signed in 1998 (ref A),noted the agreement would contain political, trade, commercial, science and technology, and cultural sections. Geiger added the agreement reflected the two presidents' (Lagos and Fox) commitments to "promoting democracy, free trade and other common interests." ¶2. (U) As an added measure of bilateral rapprochement, Mexico will provide the first ever exhibit at the inauguration of Chile's new cultural center, whose construction has been a long-term goal of the Lagos Administration. President Fox will open the exhibit of Mexican pre-Colombian artifacts at a ceremony on January 26. KELLY