MEDIA REACTION -- COLOMBIA-ECUADOR CONFLICT

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000217 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 PTER VE CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -- COLOMBIA-ECUADOR CONFLICT REF: A) Santiago 215, B) Santiago 216 ¶1. Summary: Chilean dailies on March 7 continued with their extensive coverage of the crisis between Colombia and Ecuador. On-line "El Mostrador" announced Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Chile and Brazil, quoting spokesman Tom Casey that she would address the crisis in all her meetings. Dailies reported that the OAS resolution had "diffused" the conflict and quoted Foreign Minister Foxley underscoring that the OAS resolution is just the first step in a complex process to resolve the crisis. One daily reported President Bachelet's "veiled criticism" of Chavez. "El Mercurio" ran an editorial noting that the OAS resolution should have included a statement condemning the FARC's activities. End Summary. ¶2. Independent on-line news service "El Mostrador" reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Brazil and Chile SIPDIS on March 13-15 to discuss economic and cooperation issues as well as the diplomatic crisis involving Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and now Nicaragua. Department of State spokesman Tom Casey said the trip was planned some time before, but has acquired new relevance in light of the conflict. He said the crisis with Colombia would be addressed in the meetings. ¶3. Conservative and independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) reported on regional efforts: The OAS resolution defused the conflict for now by not condemning Colombia, recognizing the violation of Ecuador's territory, and authorizing the OAS Secretary General to travel to the area of conflict, and present an agreement to the Foreign Ministers of the region on March 17. ¶4. Conservative and influential newspaper-of-record El Mercurio (circ. 129,000) and "La Tercera" noted GOC statements: Foreign Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley said the OAS resolution is just the "first step of a long-term" process to resolve the crisis. The resolution, he said, "is to avoid an escalation, but now comes the more difficult part." ¶5. "La Tercera" reported on President Bachelet's remarks and veiled criticism of Hugo Chavez before departing for the Rio Group Summit: "No country must intervene or meddle in the internal affairs (of another country). Any initiative that creates polarization or increases tension in a country's internal situation or among countries is not the best solution." ¶6. El Mercurio ran an editorial critical of the FARC and Chavez titled, "Crisis in the Region." ¶7. "At the root of the problem lies the FARC's and its activities ... tied to narcotics trafficking, murders, and kidnappings, and its mobilization into neighbor countries.... President Chavez has given the FARC the status of insurgents.... The new government of Ecuador has denied them that status, but has not shown the zeal it should in persecuting or condemning the FARC.... The violation of Ecuador's territory occurred in this context.... It's true that an incursion does not bear the threat of a permanent presence... but the principles of non-intervention and respect for borders must be upheld always. ¶8. "Ecuador must be supported in its complaint... but there should also be a rejection of the undue presence of the FARC in foreign territory.... The OAS resolution seems to be achieving some appeasing results... but has omitted rejecting the activity of terrorist organizations.... This regional crisis should lead to a reaffirmation of the principles of non-intervention, rejection of terrorism and its intervention, and that countries must not take extremist position in situations of disagreement. In this regard, we should criticize Venezuela's undue intervention and provocation." SIMONS