SEGPRES MINISTER: WELCOME OBAMA, POSTPONE SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001132 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CI SUBJECT: SEGPRES MINISTER: WELCOME OBAMA, POSTPONE SUMMIT OF AMERICAS, ENGAGE WITH CUBA, GOC WILL MOVE ON IPR -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) A key Bachelet minister says President-elect Obama has a unique opportunity to positively influence U.S.- Latin relations, with expectations in the region for change very high. The new administration's policy towards Cuba will be telling, more so than how the U.S. deals with Venezuela. Holding the upcoming Summit of the Americas could be affected by the reported illness of the Trinidad and Tobago president; a delay might prove useful to ensure the useful participation by the new U.S. administration. The GOC will work to address USG IPR concerns, including moving more quickly on proposed copyright legislation. End summary. ¶2. (U) The Ambassador called December 18 on Jose Antonio Viera-Gallo, the Secretary General of the Presidency, a member of President Bachelet's so-called "political cabinet" and the minister charged with executive-legislative relations, including sheparding through the congress the GOC's legislative agenda. E/Pol Counselor accompanied the Ambassador. -------------- Eyes On Obama -------------- ¶3. (U) The Ambassador reviewed for Viera-Gallo his recent trip to Washington, including the post-election atmosphere there. Viera-Gallo said Chile "would love to have either President-elect Obama or Secretary of State-designate Clinton here for an early visit." Obama's election was much appreciated in the region and, while he enters office at a difficult time, expectations are high. There is a real enthusiasm for his message of change and for a new approach to U.S. relations with the world. Viera-Gallo noted his daughter living in New York had been an enthusistic volunteer in the Obama campaign. -------------- Chile Presidential Campaign -------------- ¶4. (C) Viera-Gallo, who is close to OAS SecGen Insulza, confirmed, as we have heard from other Inzulza confidantes (reftel),that Insulza will not make a final decision on whether to seek the Chilean presidency before mid-January ¶2009. While Insulza, a Socialist, led the other leading Concertacion candidate, former president Eduardo Frei (Christian Democrat) in the polls, Insulza's decision was contingent on support from the Party for Democracy (PPD), another coalition partner. Viera-Gallo noted that while �A;Insulza might have majority support within the PPD, there are leading PPDers (such as Minister of Public Works Sergio Bitar) who had come out in favor of Frei. E/Pol Counselor asked if this is due to a perception among many commentators that Frei was better positioned to take votes from the oppostion center-right candidate, Sebastian Pinera. Viera-Gallo thought not, adding that Frei was saddled with being "old guard," in an atmosphere where change is the order of the day. Insulza also benefited from the withdrawal of Ricardo Lagos from the race, picking up left of center votes that would have gone to Lagos. -------------- Postpone Summit of the Americas? -------------- ¶5. (C) After the Ambassador noted Insulza's decision to run for president - and as a consequence resign from his OAS post - is of much interest in Washington, Viera-Gallo mused if it would not be best for Insulza to remain, perhaps in an "interim capacity," while a new SecGen is selected. This would allow Insulza to help shepard through the Summit of the Americas in April. Viera-Gallo said he understood the Summit might be postponed due to the illness (purportedly cancer) of the Trinidad and Tobago president. A delay in the Summit might not be bad, Viera-Gallo suggested, as it would allow more time for the new U.S. adminstration to prepare for it and make more likely the participation of the President-elect, which would have a terrific symbolic value. -------------- Cuba Policy Key -------------- ¶6. (C) Viera-Gallo continued that the region expected "real change" in U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America. Closing the detention center at Guantanamo would be one important step but the key to evidencing change "is Cuba." A relaxation of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba was "much more important" than anything the U.S. did, for example, with Venezuela. Chavez is a weaker force with less oil revenue and, moreover, there is little sympathy for Chavez in Chile. How the U.S. relates with the Cuban government - as well as those on the island who seek change - will be closely watched. -------------- IPR Policy -------------- 7.(SBU) The Ambassador inquired about GOC legislative priorities in the coming year. Viera-Gallo provided a copy of the GOC's accomplishments in 2008 and said reform of the electoral system would be key objective for 2009. The Ambassador noted that it would be important to present the incoming U.S. administration with a strong record of progress on implementing our bilateral Free Trade Agreement. The Ambassador continued that while the USG was appreciative of GOC legislative efforts to move forward on patent protection (ratification of the Patent Cooeration Treaty) and new enforcement legislation, it is as important the GOC also "push forward" on passing quickly copyright legislation now being considered by the Senate, including on protection of information accessed through the Internet. The Embassy was working closely with the MFA on this issue. Viera-Gallo took the point and said he "hoped" the legislation would pass early in 2009. -------------- The Middle East in Chile -------------- ¶8. (C) The remainder of the meeting was taken up with Viera-Gallo discussing his recent trip to the Middle East, including Israel and the Palestinian territories. He said he had met at length with President Abbas, who had expressed concern about Venezuelan-Iranian cooperation. Abbas thought Venezuela's support for the regime in Tehran also trickled through to Hamas. Abbas also said he welcomed the fact that a recent meeting of the UN's Committee for the Protection of Palestinan Rights had been held in Chile, which was far preferable to alternatives venues, including Venezuela, Nicaragua, or Cuba. Viera-Gallo also commented on a vote this week in the Chilean lower house to elevate Chile-Palestinian decision to the ambassadorial level. The Israeli ambassador to Chile had complained about the vote at an ostensibly ecumenical religious ceremony. Chilean deputies of Palestinan descent had been critical of a GOC decision to establish a Holocaust center in Chile. Chile, which hosts both a large Palestinian community and a smaller but still influential Jewish population, must always carefully remain "in equilibrium" on the Middle East. URBAN