MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM - DVC WITH

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001859 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PD, INR/IAA, PM, INL STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PREL PGOV OPRC PTER CI IR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM - DVC WITH AMBASSADOR GREG SCHULTE ¶1. Summary: U.S. Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ambassador Greg Schulte, briefed via Digital Video Conference (DVC) Chilean TV and radio commentators, think tank analysts, and university academics on the danger of Iran's nuclear program and the need for Iranian compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. All Santiago leading newspapers gave prominent coverage to Ambassador Schulte's comments on November 21 with headlines such as: "No one Believes Iran's Nuclear Plan has Peaceful Objectives" and "U.S. Urges Chile and Latin American to Assume 'Key Role' in Iranian Nuclear Problem." Headlines and excerpts follow. End Summary. ¶2. On November 21, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record El Mercurio (circ. 129,000) published a story on Iran's nuclear threat featuring Ambassador Greg Schulte, U.S. Permanent Representative to the IAEA, at a DVC in Embassy Santiago. The headline read: "Ambassador Schulte: 'No one believes that Iran's nuclear plan is for peaceful purposes.'" The sub-headline read: Schulte said Teheran's cooperation with the IAEA is not enough -- Chile and Latin America's role is to show Iran that this matter concerns the international community as a whole. ¶3. Ambassador Schulte said Teheran is not doing what is required for the IAEA to suspend sanctions. "Iran's cooperation is selective and incomplete," he said. "No one here in Vienna believes that Iran is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," said Schulte, noting that Teheran has established friendships with questionable countries such as Venezuela, Syria, and CUBA to deal with its international isolation. Schulte also highlighted the unity of the international community on this matter and said that the differences between the United States with Russia and China on when and how to act do not undermine the overall effort to stop Iran's nuclear program. "The good news is that a large number of countries are pursuing the same diplomatic goals. The bad news is that we have not yet persuaded Iran's leaders to change direction." ¶4. On November 20, El Mercurio's on-line news service (EMOL) headline read: U.S. Urges Chile and Latin American to Assume 'Key Role' in Iranian Nuclear Problem." The article highlighted Ambassador's Schulte's remarks: "Chile and Latin American countries should communicate to Iran that this is an issue that concerns the international community, because everyone is interested in preventing a small arms race.... Iran should fully cooperate (with the AIEA),but we see selective cooperation.... No one in Vienna believes Iran's nuclear process is for peaceful means." ¶5. On November 21, business and financial "Diario Financiero" (circ. 30,000) headlined: "U.S seeks more allies against Iran's nuclear program." Ambassador Schulte asked Chile and Latin America to play a key role with regard to Iran's nuclear program, expressing their concerns to Tehran. In reference to the IAEA report submitted last week, the Ambassador said Iran's cooperation with the agency is "selective and incomplete" and added that Iran wants to make the nuclear program an issue between the United States and Teheran when it is an issue between Iran and the world. Schulte also noted that Chilean Milenko Skoknic has been the agency's Board Chairman since September. ¶6. The government-owned, editorially-independent "La Nacion" (circ. 4,200) headline on November 21 read: "U.S. wants Chile's support in dispute over Iran's nuclear program." URBAN