CHILE MEDIA REPORT - NOVEMBER 25

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001032 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL PGOV EFIN CI SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - NOVEMBER 25 Headline Stories -------------- ¶1. World stock markets on the rise as a result of the bailout plan for Citigroup; Finance Minister Andres Velasco foresees that Chile will end with a fiscal surplus in 2009 despite the drop in copper prices. U.S.-related News -------------- ¶2. Chileans comment on Timothy Geithner. Vittorio Corbo, former Central Banks President, economist Sebastian Edwards, Guillermo Le Fort (IMF),and Esteban Jadresic all met Tim Geithner at some point during their careers and concur on Geithner's expertise on macroeconomic policy, his experience in working with the public sector and governments, familiarity with powerful circles, and his practical approach to resolving problems, looking beyond traditional economic theory (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 11/25). ¶3. Former Chilean Finance Minister Eduardo Aninat commented on Geithner: "Unlike the Bush team, he knows how to work with governments and not just banks.... He is thoroughly familiar with macroeconomic policy, is an expert negotiator and a pragmatist (La Tercera, conservative, independent (circ. 101,000, 11/25). ¶4. The National Criminal DNA Archive began operating yesterday. The archive is based on the FBI's Combined DNA Index System, which was made available to Chile with the signature of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Justice and the U.S. federal agency. The archive will store genetic data from criminals and victims for cross reference and evidence from the sites of crimes (El Mercurio, 11/25). ¶5. Bridgett Wagner of The Heritage Foundation was invited by conservative think tank Libertad y Desarrollo and the Union of Latin American Parties (UPLA) to speak on the U.S. election. Wagner said Sarah Palin is the kind of change that the Republican Party needs. "She fought the establishment and corruption in the party, which requires great courage," said Wagner. She said that this election shows that the GOP must learn that it must not diverge from its conservative policies and realize that "not all power is in Washington." "It must learn to give power back to the states, communities, and families and show that it can properly manage American tax payers' money," she said. ¶6. Editorial entitled, "The President-elect's Appointments and Signals": 
"The promise of change that was central to the Senator's campaign... has generated wide expectation... and he has responded to that expectation in two ways.... First, he has emphasized... he signs of unity that were characteristic of his campaign.... The cordial meeting with his former Republican opponent and his visit to the White House with his wife were gestures to show public opinion... that his administration will not be belligerent, but rather conciliatory.... Second... his appointments... show that the president-elect is putting together a team of individuals who have a more centrist stance, and with executive and legislative experience.... There are, therefore, reasons to believe that the next White House tenant wants to form an inclusive team of highly capable individuals, whose views are more in the center than to any of the extremes (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 11/25). ¶7. Column by Ivan Auger: "As a citizen of the world, the newly-elected U.S. President -- son of a white mother from the deep south and a Kenyan father, educated in Indonesia and Hawaii, and in Harvard Law School and a community activist in the ghettos of Chicago -- is perhaps the best individual to take the United States into today's multination and cosmopolitan world.... It is the only reasonable alternative in today's multi-polar world (El Mostrador, 11/25). Cuba -------------- ¶8. Former DC party President Soledad Alvear recalled that she was invited to visit Cuba many times as Foreign Affairs Minister, adding that she would have gone had she been allowed to meet with the dissidents. In this context, Alvear said that Bachelet should meet with the opposition in her trip to Cuba next February. Foreign Minister Foxley confirmed Bachelet's trip, but said the final agenda is not ready yet. Foxley said Chile hopes to be a good partner in Cuba's transition. Reportedly, the DC will ask Bachelet to inform Raul Castro of the party's position regarding human rights in Cuba (La Nacion, government-owned, editorially independent, circ. 4,200, 11/25). ¶9. Idania Ramos, of the Cuban Friendship People's Institute, thanked the GOC and the Chilean Cuban Solidarity Movement for the aid provided to help the victims of recent hurricanes on the island. Ramos also met with elected municipal authorities to discuss the Miracle Operation Project, during which Cuban physicians have already assisted 150 patients in Quillota (La Nacion, 11/25). Nuclear Energy -------------- ¶10. President Bachelet will visit Russia next year to discuss nuclear energy, defense and investment. Russia has conducted a strong lobby in Chile and the region in recent years to promote the development of nuclear plants. The problem the HydroAysen project faces in Chile provides a new argument to include nuclear energy in Chile's energy matrix. Finland, France, and the United States have already expressed their interest in investing in nuclear plants in Chile, and Russia is not far behind. Political scientist Guillermo Holzman said Bachelet's trip is consistent with Chile's multilateral foreign policy and its desire to open to Asia, where Russia plays an important role as member of APEC (El Mostrador, on-line news agency, 11/25). SIMONS