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