MEDIA REACTION: IRANIAN TIES WITH VENEZUELA

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000418 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 OPRC PTER IR CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRANIAN TIES WITH VENEZUELA ¶1. On March 11, conservative, influential, newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (Sun. circ. 260,108) carried an editorial entitled "Iran's Diplomacy in Latin America." Quote: ¶2. "Iran is actively engaged with the President of Venezuela to increase its influence in Latin America.... An eventual active presence of Iran in our region is no longer irrelevant, it is a threat. Iran violates international agreements for the peaceful development of nuclear energy and, therefore, threatens international security and peace; it openly supports violence in the Middle East through Hezbollah, and threatens the existence of the state of Israel. Iran and Venezuela also violate...the principle of sovereignty and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. The ties between Iran and Venezuela exacerbate the differences and mistrust that Chavez is already provoking. Latin America and our Foreign Ministry must clearly take a stance and set restrictions regarding Iran's diplomatic presence and offers of cooperation, and be aware of Iran's motivations." YAMAUCHI