MARCH 11 BACHELET INAUGURATION: LIMITED SPACE FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000302 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV CI INAUGURATION SUBJECT: MARCH 11 BACHELET INAUGURATION: LIMITED SPACE FOR DELEGATIONS REF: A. YAMAUCHI-SHERIDAN 2/9/06 E-MAIL ¶B. SANTIAGO 179 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Foreign Ministry advised resident diplomatic missions in writing on February 9 that the number of spaces available for foreign delegations at Michelle Bachelet's presidential inauguration on March 11 will be very limited. For the inauguration ceremony itself, only heads of delegation plus one will be able to attend, in cases where the head of delegation is not a head of state or government. These limits are the same as President Lagos' inauguration ceremony in 2000, when only then-Attorney General Reno and the U.S. ambassador to Chile attended the ceremony. We are approaching the GOC to request additional numbers. Paragraph four contains Post's current information on the composition of other delegations. End summary. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry delivered to resident diplomatic missions in Santiago on February 9 a diplomatic note containing a schedule of events for Michelle Bachelet's presidential inauguration on March 11. The note includes details on the number of delegation members who will be able to attend the inaugural events, as well as administrative and logistical details. Post understands that WHA/BSC received an advance copy of the note from the Chilean Embassy in Washington on February 6. Post will transmit an informal translation of the note septel. Below is a summary schedule: March 10 -------------- 1845-2045: Protocol calls on President Lagos by visiting heads of delegation. Invitees: heads of delegations plus two (in cases where the head of delegation is not the head of state or government). 2100: Dinner hosted by President Lagos at La Moneda presidential palace (Santiago). Invitees: heads of state/government and spouses only. 2100: Reception hosted by FM Walker at the Foreign Ministry (Santiago). Invitees: heads of delegations plus five (in cases where the head of delegation is not the head of state or government). March 11 -------------- 1200: Inauguration ceremony at the National Congress (Valparaiso -- one-hour drive from Santiago). Invitees: heads of delegation plus one (in cases where the head of delegation is not a head of state or government). 1400: Lunch hosted by President Bachelet at the Cerro Castillo Presidential Palace (Vina del Mar -- 30-minute drive from Valparaiso). Invitees: heads of state or government and spouses only. 1530: Return to Santiago. 2200: Artistic presentation (Santiago). Invitees: heads of delegation plus five. March 12 -------------- 1200: Ecumenical oration at the Metropolitan Cathedral (Santiago). Invitees: head of delegation plus one (in cases where the head of delegation is not a head of state or government). 1330: Reception hosted by President Bachelet at the Presidential Palace (Santiago). Invitees: heads of delegation plus five. ¶3. (U) The Foreign Ministry's note stresses there will not be a special allocation for ambassadors. Ambassadors must be included in the numbers provided above. OTHER DELEGATIONS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Below is Post's latest information on attendance by foreign delegations for certain countries, as provided by resident diplomats: --Argentina: President Kirchner. --Bolivia: President Morales. --Brazil: President Lula Da Silva and Foreign Minister Amorin. --China: A vice minister. --France: The GOF is close to naming Minister of Defense Alliot-Marie head of delegation. --Germany: Chancellor Merkel almost certainly will not attend. Germany will send two ministers, but not its foreign minister. --Guatemala: President Berger. --India: Prime Minister Singh will not attend. India's Minister of State is scheduled to visit Chile at the end of March. Resident ambassador may head the delegation. --Mexico: Undecided. However, President Fox is not expected to attend. --New Zealand: Prime Minister Clark is tentatively scheduled to lead the delegation. --South Korea: Undecided. --Spain: Crown Prince of Asturias will lead the delegation. One or two members of government, Socialist Party members, and prominent Spaniards will accompany. --Russia: Tentatively planning on sending the president of Parliament. --United Kingdom: Lord Bach (head of delegation) and resident ambassador (Note: According to the UK Embassy, Bach was a senior defense ministry official when Bachelet served as Lagos' defense minister.) --Venezuela: President Chavez and spouse. KELLY