PRESIDENT BACHELET REQUESTS SENATE AUTHORIZATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000945 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS UN CI HA SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BACHELET REQUESTS SENATE AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND CHILEAN TROOPS IN HAITI FOR SIX MONTHS REF: A. SANTIAGO 00919 ¶B. SANTIAGO 00736 ¶C. SANTIAGO 00639 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 ( b and d). ¶1. (U) Chilean leading daily "El Mercurio" reported on May 5 that President Bachelet formally had requested the Chilean Senate extend Chilean peacekeeping troops in Haiti for an additional six months beyond June 30. According to the press, the Senate Foreign Relations and Defense Committees are expected to consider the request during the week of May 8-12. ¶2. (C) Senate Foreign Relations Committee professional staff member Julio Camara confirmed to poloff on May 5 that the Senate had received the GOC's request. Camara indicated that the Senate committees might not take up the request until the week of May 15-19, after the GOC delegation (which includes several senators) returns from the Haitian presidential inauguration (reftel A). ¶3. (C) Comment: Senior GOC officials, including Defense Minister Blanlot, have predicted privately to us that the Senate likely will authorize an extension beyond June 30 (reftel B). Only a simple majority is needed, and Bachelet's center-left Concertacion holds 20 of the Senate's 38 seats. That said, the center-right opposition can be expected to resurrect past concerns regarding "an open-ended commitment" to Haiti, and press the GOC to agree to limit future Chilean contributions to non-military areas (reftel C). KELLY