CHARGE PREVIEWS SECDEF VISIT WITH MINISTER OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001574

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL CI
SUBJECT: CHARGE PREVIEWS SECDEF VISIT WITH MINISTER OF
DEFENSE GONI

REF: STATE 135921

Classified By: Charge a.i. Carol Urban for reasons 1.5 (b and d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Defense Minister Goni expects to review the "excellent
state of bilateral U.S.-Chile mil-mil relations" and hear the
USG perspective on international affairs during next week's
visit by the Secretary of Defense. MoD will also carefully
review the USG counter-proposal on updating the 1996
U.S.-Chile Memorandum of Defense Cooperation. End Summary.


2. (U) Charge a.i. Urban paid a courtesy call September 26 on
Minister of Defense Jose Goni, during which she previewed the
October 3-5 visit of Secretary of Defense Gates. Goni was
joined by General Marcos Lopez, the Deputy CJCS equivalent,
and Maria Ines Ruz, advisor to the MoD on international
affairs. The Charge was accompanied by the DATT, MILGRP CDR,
and Acting DCM.


3. (C) Goni said the Secretary's visit would build on an
already superb collaborative relationship. He noted he had
worked very well with former Ambassador Kelly and inquired
when his successor would arrive. Charge replied that
Ambassador-designate Simons had appeared before the SFRC the
day before for his confirmation hearings, which had gone
well. Goni continued that he viewed the Secretary's visit as
an important opportunity to amplify cooperation, noting that
he hoped to sign with the Secretary two agreements while the
latter was in Chile, one on reciprocal provision of health
care, the other a Master Information Exchange Agreement
(MIEA). The DATT clarified that while the agreement on
health care is almost certainly ready for signing, it is not
clear the MIEA would be ready by the time of the Secretary's
visit.


4. (C) Charge observed that the Secretary very much looking
forward to his visit, a "get acquainted opportunity," but
also a chance to explore new areas for cooperation. She
expressed appreciation for Chilean peacekeeping efforts in
Haiti and GOC support for the recent extension of the
MINUSTAH mandate. Goni said he expected the visit to consist
of three parts: 1) A review of the mil-to-mil aspects of the
bilateral relationship; 2) A working lunch to discuss Chile's
internal political situation, regional developments, and to
hear the Secretary's views on the international situation;
and, 3) A chance for the Secretary to experience Chilean
culture by attending a football (soccer) match between
Chile's best known club (Colo Colo) and a visiting Colombian
club (Millonarios). On the latter, DATT noted the
Secretary's very heavy schedule, as well as security

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concerns, but said he would pass on the very gracious
invitation.


5. (C) Charge provided Goni a copy of the USG
counter-proposal to Chile's request to replace the 1996
U.S-Chile Memorandum of Defense Cooperation (reftel). Goni
said he would carefully review the USG response. Acting DCM
explained the USG draft had arrived only an hour before the
meeting but that it would give the two sides another topic to
discuss during the Secretary's visit. While it would be
highly unlikely to reach agreement during that visit, perhaps
the two sides could work to consensus with a view to signing
when Minister Goni visited Washington in December or January.
The very cordial meeting concluded with a brief review of
the Secretary's planned schedule of activities in Santiago.
URBAN