DEMARCHE TO CHILE RE BUILDING INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000473 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL ZI CI SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO CHILE RE BUILDING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE REF: STATE 34009 Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace for reasons 1.5 (b and d) . (C) E/Pol Counselor March 22 delivered reftel points to Manuel Hinojosa, Director of the MFA's Office for African Affairs. E/Pol Counselor stressed the brutal nature of the Mugabe regime's treatment and the possibility that instability in Zimbabwe could spill over into the region. The USG asked that Chile issue a strong condemnation of the Mugabe regime and that it also approach the AU and urge it to do the same. Hinojosa replied that Chile "on principal" agreed that events in Zimbabwe were unacceptable. He promised to study the USG demarche carefully and would then make a recommendation to his superiors as to any possible Chile public statement or follow-up action. KELLY