MEDIA REACTION - ECUADOR, CORREA PRESIDENCY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000125 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA AMEMBASSY FOR PAO, IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO EC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - ECUADOR, CORREA PRESIDENCY On January 20, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) ran an editorial entitled "The Latin American Left's New Model." "With the inauguration of the new president of Ecuador last Monday, the cycle of government changes in Latin America, which links to the leftist populist axis led by Venezuela, has been closed.... All of the governments in the leftist axis have been democratically elected.... but one cannot deny that their political platforms are the opposite of what has been done by Chile and most of the economically successful countries worldwide, e.g., [successful countries] have opened their borders and markets to globalization, liberalized their economies, restricted the State's role, and forged a good relationship with the United States. Chile's challenge is to maintain its ties and good relations with all in the region while not deviating from its economic and political strategy..." KELLY