CHILE MEDIA REACTION - UNSC AND PANAMA CANDIDACY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002315 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REACTION - UNSC AND PANAMA CANDIDACY ¶1. On November 3, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) ran an editorial entitled "Consensus Card for the Security Council." Quotes: "Panama has the conditions to garner the region's support.... From the political perspective, it is well established in an intermediate position and can hardly be accused of having greater harmony with any of the more notorious geopolitical axis (Guatemala was considered a U.S. "card" and Venezuela, the region's leader of the strongest positions against the White House....) In addition, its geographic location has a symbolic value, in that it hooks Central and South America. "Panama's election in the General Assembly...is now a mere formality. But this does not mean that its two years in the council will be a mere formality. Although it is true that the leading voices are those countries with permanent seats and the right to veto..., it is likely...that issues of extreme importance will have to be resolved in the next two years.... It does not escape us that (Venezuela's) not winning a seat in the council and losing to Guatemala on all counts is a significant blow for Venezuela...which adds to the defeat in several recent elections in the region of candidates who support him (Chavez)." ¶2. On November 2, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 33,000) carried an editorial entitled "Latin America's Weakness." Quote: "The long process to find a representative of the Group of Latin American Nations to the UNSC...was finally resolved with a proposal in favor of Panama.... Chile...readily said it would favor the consensus bid.... Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said that what has occurred is positive and that he has learned some important lessons: an evident one is President Chavez' inability to show himself as the region's leader. But, unfortunately, what was truly evident was the region's disunion...compared to other geographic blocs.... In this context, there is not much we can expect from the upcoming Summit of Chiefs of State and Government.... The absence of a solution (in the UNSC) is already a bad signal." KELLY