MEDIA REACTION - HAITI, ELECTIONS AFTERMATH

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000306 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 CI HA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - HAITI, ELECTIONS AFTERMATH ¶1. On February 9, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 31,834) carried an editorial entitled "The Election in Haiti and Haiti's Future." Quote: ¶2. "The UN intervention in Haiti has stopped the growing chaos, but Haiti has yet to decide future goals.... Chile's participation in this UN mission has been particularly visible because the Chief of the UN mission, the OAS Secretary General and the second in command of the military forces on the island are Chilean and because...Chile has successfully fulfilled a dangerous and difficult mission.... ¶3. Now that the specific goal for which the Senate approved sending the troops to Haiti has been completed, it is necessary to discuss the advantages of extending the mission, ending it, or changing the way in which to help the Caribbean nation.... The original purpose of Chile's participation has concluded with the election. The next government and Congress must be cautious in the commitments they make, especially in a situation as unpredictable and difficult as there is in Haiti." KELLY