MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ'S REGIONAL AND

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000070 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 PGOV PREL VE BL NU CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ'S REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE ¶1. On January 12, Chile's conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) carried an editorial entitled "Irreconcilable Positions." Quote: "The Governments of Venezuela and Bolivia have adopted similar political projects inspired in the Cuban model. But while Caracas is getting closer to gaining full control of the institutions by dominating the Judiciary, Parliament, and the Electoral National Council, and presses against basic freedoms...the regime in La Paz is finding a reality of greater institutionalism that makes Evo Morales' plans of political dominance difficult.... Bolivia seems to be heading towards a clear division in which positions are irreconcilable..." ¶2. On January 11, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 33,000) carried an editorial entitled "Ortega: Between Chavez and Morales." Quote: "The image of Daniel Ortega celebrating his assumption of power in Nicaragua, standing besides the Presidents of Venezuela and Bolivia, symbolizes the moment of success that Hugo Chavez' regional policy is experiencing after its failures in Mexico and Peru.... Some of (Ortega's) initial measures include his enthusiastic adherence to Chavez' Bolivarian alliance ALBA, designed as an alternative to the Washington promoted FTAA.... This is part of Chavez' fight against the United States and neoliberal economics.... The enormous availability of resources provided by Venezuela's oil wealth allows him to maintain for some time the financing of populist policies within and outside borders.... On the political front, the danger posed by his influence is that it could deteriorate the weakest Latin American democracies. "Chavez demonstrated that freedom of expression is incompatible with the Twenty First Century Socialism, as was clearly shown by his violent reaction to OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza's warning.... Although the Venezuelan President later described his own words as imprudent, he maintains his opinion. Thus one could suppose that he is heading towards a collision with the OAS and Inter-American Democratic Charter...." KELLY