Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANTIAGO384
2007-03-07 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Tags:  KMDR KPAO OPRC CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0384 0661620
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071620Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1144
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000384

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC

STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA


On March 7, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) ran an editorial entitled "Chavez, Bush,
and Latin America." Quotes:

"The scenario of a (Hugo) Chavez with no counterweight seems to be
changing. In the recent summit in Guyana and in the absence of
Chavez, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Chile resolved to strengthen
the Rio Group to focus it on the hemisphere's social agenda.

"The initiative can be viewed with skepticism...but does show a
decrease in rhetoric.... Another positive change...is President
Bush's trip to the region. This is a sign of good will, but many
believe it entails few important cooperation proposals and there is
the issue of distrust over U.S. interventionism in the continent's
political affairs, which has not disappeared. But Bush's initiative
to develop alternative fuels...and educational programs are of great
interest to countries such as Chile, which do not aspire to gaining
financial assistance.... Those governments that represent their
people and value their political and economic freedom must unite and
assess what is realistically more appropriate for the region in the
longer term and react by clearly moving away from Chavez.... At the
same time the United States must launch a modern and comprehensive
cooperation program to regain its leadership and show that it has
renounced interventionism, is lifting barriers to agricultural
products, and will reform an immigration policy that hurts millions
in the continent."

KELLY