FOREIGN MINISTER WALKER DISCUSSES BACHELET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000383 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS PGOV HA CI SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER WALKER DISCUSSES BACHELET INAUGURATION, HAITI AND ICC WITH AMBASSADOR Classified By: Craig Kelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Craig Kelly met with outgoing Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker on February 21, 2006 to discuss the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Article 98, and participation in Haiti's peacekeeping operation. End Summary. ICC AND ARTICLE 98 ¶2. (C) Walker expressed disappointment in the U.S. negative response to the Chilean proposal that a broadened Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) could lead to a solution to American Servicemembers Protective Act (ASPA) sanctions, when Chile ratifies the ICC. Invoking the 2005 conversation between Presidents Bush and Lagos in Mar del Plata, Walker said the two presidents assured one another that a resolution would be found to the ICC-ASPA problem. Walker emphasized the political complications for Chile of an Article 98 agreement. The Ambassador and Walker agreed that both governments want to avoid a confrontation, and Walker added there must be some type of waiver to be granted so that Chile, "one of the like-minded countries in the region," was "not punished." Walker noted that the Chilean Congress was prepared to ratify the ICC in 2006. The Ambassador praised the Chilean SOFA proposal as a significant step forward in mil-mil relations, but recalled that we had made clear to GOC early on that a SOFA would not answer the ASPA requirements. HAITI ¶3. (C) Walker commented that the GOC is pleased with their participation in the peacekeeping effort in Haiti, noting the experience had offered helpful lessons. KELLY