MEDIA REPORT - PRESIDENT BACHELET REITERATES INDEPENDENCE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001616 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 PGOV PREL CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT - PRESIDENT BACHELET REITERATES INDEPENDENCE OF CHILEAN FOREIGN POLICY ¶1. Summary: Several July 27 news stories, including front-page headlines, highlighted President Bachelet's comments about her independent foreign policy, notably on ICC ratification and Venezuela's UNSC candidacy in the wake of the Chilean Defense Minister's meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld. To place this in context, President Bachelet has faced increased criticism recently from opposition leaders and some elements within the governing coalition over Chile's perceived weak response to an Argentine reduction of needed natural gas and her administration's uneven coordination on Venezuela. The government appears interested in downplaying these issues, but the media continually fuels the discussion by seeking commentary of high-profile figures and selecting headlines that at times do not reflect the facts. El Mercurio's reporters have tended to be the most accurate about Chile's position on the ICC and Venezuela's UNSC candidacy. Following are headlines and block quotes. End Summary. ¶2. On July 26, conservative afternoon daily "La Segunda" (circ. 31.834) "Bachelet to the U.S.: 'Chile Does Not Accept Pressure.'" "Chile has had in the past, present, and, I am sure, in the future an autonomous and independent foreign policy. Chile has shown in the past that it does not accept pressure from any side and of any kind, and that will not be different during my government," said President Bachelet setting the government's course after learning of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's warning that for the U.S. it would be SIPDIS "incomprehensible" for Chile to vote for Venezuela in the UNSC. ¶3. Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807): "Bachelet Affirms Independence in Chile's Foreign Policy." The President said yesterday that Chile, "does not accept pressure from any side or of any kind." This reaction comes after Secretary Rumsfeld expressed concern to his Chilean counterpart (over the UNSC vote),and alludes to President Lagos' opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In the middle of the controversy is Defense Minister Blanlot, who said today there had been no pressure and that she and Rumsfeld had had a working meeting "where they expressed their views on certain issues and we responded with ours." Ambassador Craig Kelly was quoted, "There is no pressure... We are speaking to many countries about this matter and I will not comment about the position of any particular one." ¶4. Conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000): "Bachelet Toughens Tone and Rejects U.S. Pressure over UN Vote." Amid the opposition's criticism of Bachelet's weak reaction to Argentina's decision to cut gas supplies to Chile and in other foreign policy fronts, La Moneda sources said Bachelet's statements yesterday are intended to show strength in the management of foreign policy, which she did not show in her handling of the crisis with Argentina.... La Moneda and the Foreign Ministry were unhappy with Blanlot's statements about Secretary Rumsfeld's conversation...because she had publicly referred to a conversation that was intended to be private. ¶5. Government-owned, editorially independent "La Nacion" (circ. 3,800): "UN Vote and Ratification of the ICC: President Bachelet Restates Chile's Foreign Policy." The concern expressed by the Pentagon over Santiago's possible support of Venezuela in the UNSC motivated the President to underscore that the government "does not accept pressure from any side or of any kind." The White House Ambassador to Santiago, Craig Kelly said, "We are speaking to many countries bout this and I will not comment on any particular view." ¶6. The Defense Ministry issued a statement explaining that "Defense Secretary Rumsfeld did not ask Chile to refrain from voting for SIPDIS Venezuela," adding that Minister Blanlot denied having released these details about her meeting with the Secretary. Political party leaders of the governing coalition supported Bachelet's remarks that Chile must not respond to pressure. However, they also added that the U.S. government concern must not be exaggerated, since the United States is in a campaign to garner votes for its candidate in the UNSC. "We must not become scandalized because the United States is intensifying support for its candidate, Guatemala," said PS President Camilo Escalona. KELLY