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