MEDIA REACTION - BOLIVIA MORALES INAUGURATION

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000164 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 BL SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - BOLIVIA MORALES INAUGURATION ¶1. On January 24, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000) carried an article by Alvaro Vargas Llosa entitled, "Evo Morales Opens his Options with Conciliatory Gestures Toward Chile and the United States." Quote: ¶2. "Evo Morales' first moves display a political balancing act to avoid falling for now on either side of the fence. Although gestures toward Castro and Chavez continue, Morales has approached Chile and even the United States.... Three gestures are noteworthy: the meetings with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and with (U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs) Thomas Shannon, and his public thanks to Lula (da Silva) for his guidance.... The rapprochement with the United States began on January 2, when Morales met with U.S. Ambassador in La Paz David Greenlee.... This time, he invited Shannon to this home...and had conciliatory remarks for the U.S. in his inaugural speech." KELLY