MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000087

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL STATE FOR
INR/R/MR


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)



1. On January 17, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) carried an editorial entitled "Uncertainty
Over ICC Vote." Quote:

"The constitutional reform that would allow the Chilean State to
acknowledge the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction faces
new obstacles.... The Alliance (opposition) has stated that under
current conditions it would not ratify the reform, while
pro-government senators have also expressed reservations. Thus, the
Executive has resolved to postpone the vote until March.... Chile's
ratification of the ICC would involve costs, and, on the other hand,
the benefits are not yet evident.... Although judicially weak, the
ICC opens the way for an activism that, beyond pursuing general
interests, would focus on political objectives.... To Chile, the
direct costs would originate in the programs that the U.S. would
suspend if (Chile) does not grant safeguards (to U.S troops and
citizens.) The U.S. stance is arguable but understandable and
should not be dismissed without further analysis. Since the mid 80s
-and previously very selectively - that country has led a special
effort to promote democracy and protect individual freedoms in
nations where these are not present. In a number of occasions it
has made mistakes, such as Iraq, but it cannot be forgotten that
many other countries have done little to promote those institutions.
All of these considerations should be taken into account in the
debate, but the reasons to make a decision that has clear costs and
unclear benefits do not seem to be based on Chile's longstanding
interests but rather on an arguable ideological gesture, because our
independence - which has been pointed out as an argument- is not in
question."


2. On January 17 conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ.
101,000)ran an opinion piece by former Foreign Minister Ignacio
Walker entitled "The Necessity of Signing on to the ICC." Quote:

"A permanent International Court crystallizes a longtime global
community's aspirations and allows us to overcome the deficiencies
of the legal mechanisms that exist now."

KELLY