CHILE: A/S DESUTTER HOLDS VERIFICATION VIDEO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000425 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP ETTC MARR PARM PINR PREL PGOV CI SUBJECT: CHILE: A/S DESUTTER HOLDS VERIFICATION VIDEO TELECONFERENCE WITH CHILEAN ACADEMICS REF: 05 SANTIAGO 1885 ¶1. Summary: Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance and Implementation (VCI) Paula DeSutter spoke with 22 Chilean academics about regional threats and U.S. efforts to strengthen effective arms control regimes at an Embassy-hosted digital video conference on January 23. A/S DeSutter discussed the role of the VCI bureau, USG concerns about Iran, and Chile's important role as a credible independent voice on compliance issues. A/S DeSutter emphasized that distance cannot fully insulate Chile from the negative security consequences if Iran's noncompliance is not adequately addressed. The ranking Chilean interlocutor said Chile's cooperation on compliance-related issues would continue under Michelle Bachelet. End summary ¶2. Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance and Implementation (VCI) Paula DeSutter spoke with 22 Chilean academics about regional threats and U.S. efforts to strengthen effective arms control regimes at an Embassy-hosted digital video conference on January 23. Guillermo Holzmann, Director of the University of Chile's Center for Strategy, Security and Defense, was the ranking Chilean interlocutor. Academics from the University of Chile, Catholic University, ARCIS University, National Political and Strategic Academy (ANEPE),Chilean Air Force Academy, and the Naval Academy also participated in the event. ¶3. A/S DeSutter explained that the VCI Bureau is responsible for preparing the President's Annual Noncompliance Report to Congress, which carefully assesses international compliance with a number of treaties, including the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Explaining U.S. support for reporting Iran's nuclear programs to the UNSC, A/S DeSutter noted the U.S. has been concerned about Iran's nuclear intentions for ten years. Iran has become bolder, "seeming to believe it is above the law." A/S DeSutter argued the clearest evidence of Iran's noncompliance with the NPT and its safeguards obligations can be found in the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors' reports on the IAEA web site. She said Iran has taken all the benefits of being a party to the NPT, including gaining technical nuclear assistance from other nations, and thus has taken advantage of a false image that it is a "responsible country." 
¶4. Holzmann asked about the possibility of having effective verification regimes. A/S DeSutter explained that a number of "national means and methods" are available for treaty verification purposes, such as commercial satellite imagery. The value of on-site inspections is often overstated, since they only provide information about activities in a certain place at a certain time. A/S DeSutter offered the analogy of welcoming her mother-in-law to visit but only letting her inspect the housekeeping in two of the least-used rooms so the mother-in-law would have a high opinion of her housekeeping abilities. ¶5. One of the Chilean participants commented that Chile was geographically far from Iran, implying that it was safe. A/S DeSutter replied that distance cannot fully insulate Chile from the negative security consequences, if Iran's noncompliance is not adequately addressed. She noted that Chile's voice has weight precisely because it is not near Iran, and that Chile's history of supporting long-standing international treaties and agreements makes Chile's voice credible on arms control issues. The USG is concerned the lesson other countries take from Iran's behavior is that noncompliance offers benefits. A more positive example, A/S DeSutter explained, was Libya's realization that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) actually made the country less, not more, secure. The U.S. wants to encourage other nations to realize that having WMD actually reduces their security. ¶6. In response to a question about "regional problems," A/S DeSutter said the U.S. was following recent statements by Venezuela "with interest." On Cuba, she explained there were "differences" within the USG about evidence of a Cuban biological weapons program. On Brazil, A/S DeSutter said the U.S. and Brazil maintained a dialogue regarding Brazil's nuclear programs, but the U.S. did not see anything which indicated noncompliance. A/S DeSutter noted that it seemed Brazil "wants to be a serious player." ¶7. A/S DeSutter asked if the January election of Michelle Bachelet as Chile's next president would have an impact on Chile's policies. Dr. Holzmann noted that President-elect Bachelet has training in security issues, as a former Minister of Defense of Chile and graduate from the National Defense University in the U.S. Dr. Holzmann said he expected continued bilateral cooperation and stability, and that the GOC's regional policies would be maintained. He added that there were "more possibilities" for continued efforts in Haiti, and that Chile was concerned by threats to democracy in the region, naming Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and also Colombia. ¶8. This cable has been cleared by A/S DeSutter. KELLY