CHILE NOT READY TO DECLARE FOR THE PROLIFERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000907

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2016
TAGS: MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP CI
SUBJECT: CHILE NOT READY TO DECLARE FOR THE PROLIFERATION
SECURITY INITIATIVE

REF: A. STATE 50811


B. SANTIAGO 00563

C. SANTIAGO 00260 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Prompted by the Ambassador's call to Foreign
Ministry Director General Carlos Portales (number three in
the MFA),Director for Special Policies Luis Winter contacted
EPOL Counselor on May 3 to confirm Portales' receipt of
Ambassador's reftel A demarche on the Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI). Winter relayed that with the current
discussions with the U.S. on Article 98 and the International
Criminal Court, the time was not ripe for Chile to join the
Proliferation Security Initiative. However, the GOC was
prepared to send its Ambassador in Warsaw to attend PSI
commemorative events or observe policy discussions.


2. (C) EPOL Counselor noted that he saw no connection
between PSI and our discussions over Chile's pending
ratification of the ICC. Winter acknowledged the point, but
said the GOC was not prepared to deal with both issues
concurrently. Note: Winter has previously (reftel B) told
Post that PSI ratification was tied to pending legislation
that would give the GOC broader power to negotiate bilateral
and multilateral security agreements.

KELLY