MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH ON CUBA

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001742

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH ON CUBA



1. On October 25, Chile's conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) ran an article
headlined, "Bush makes unprecedented call on Cuba's military." The
article highlights Presidents Bush's call for Cubans to "rise
peacefully" against the government of Fidel and Raul Castro, noting
that the President then made several announcements "to encourage a
true revolution of freedom," namely that the United States would not
recognize Raul Castro's regime and would maintain the embargo on the
island. Lead quotes: "Cuba will not improve by changing one
dictator for another.... The socialist paradise has become a
tropical gulag."


2. On October 25, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ.
101,000) ran an article headlined, "Bush cites Chile as an example
for Cuba." It emphasized President Bush's call on the international
community to help set up a fund to support a democratic transition
in Cuba. It noted his announcement that the United States would
maintain the embargo, "until the dictatorship changes." President's
Bush's concluding remark, "Viva Cuba Libre," was followed by his
explanation that peaceful change can occur peacefully, citing Chile,
Spain, and Eastern Europe as examples.

URBAN