Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANTIAGO323
2008-04-10 16:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR SWING'S VISIT TO CHILE IN SUPPORT OF

Tags:  AORC PREF PREL PGOV IO PHUM CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0053
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0323 1011638
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101638Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3078
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0527
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000323 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM MRAMGOOLIE AND WHA/BSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREF PREL PGOV IO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SWING'S VISIT TO CHILE IN SUPPORT OF
IOM CANDIDACY

REF: A. STATE 14788


B. 07 SANTIAGO 1118

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000323

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR PRM MRAMGOOLIE AND WHA/BSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREF PREL PGOV IO PHUM CI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SWING'S VISIT TO CHILE IN SUPPORT OF
IOM CANDIDACY

REF: A. STATE 14788


B. 07 SANTIAGO 1118


1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador William Swing visited Santiago
April 1 to seek GOC support for his candidacy for Director
General (DG) of the International Organization for Migration
(IOM). He met with Minister of Interior Perez Yoma, senior
officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local IOM
office, and a group of local migration experts. Chilean
government officials welcomed Ambassador Swing's remarks that
as DG he would support greater IOM activity in Chile. They
said they would make their final decision about which
candidate to support in the June 2008 election after further
inter-agency consultations. End summary.


2. (SBU) Minister of Interior Perez Yoma expressed
appreciation for Ambassador Swing's visit, noting that
migration issues were becoming more important for Chile,
given the increasing number of Peruvian migrants in the
country (Note: there are roughly 100,000 Peruvians living in
Chile). He welcomed Ambassador Swing's comment that as
Director General (DG) of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) he would support increased training for
migration-related workers. Foreign Ministry Officials,
including Acting Director General Carlos Appelgren, Director
of Multilateral Policy Eduardo Galvez, and Director for
Consular Policy Luis Sepulveda, also supported Ambassador
Swing's view that the IOM should be more active in Latin
America, particularly in training and capacity building for
workers in migration-related organizations. Sepulveda noted
that the IOM should dedicate more time and resources to
Chile, starting by upgrading the director of the local IOM
office from a "Head of Office" to a "Chief of Mission."


3. (U) Following his meetings with GOC officials, Ambassador
Swing visited the local IOM office, where he discussed local
migration issues with the Head of Office Gabriela Rodriguez.
He then participated in a round-table with local migration
experts, including representatives of NGOs working on migrant
rights, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin
America, the local IOM office, and academics. At a dinner
hosted by the DCM, Ambassador Swing discussed further his
candidacy and regional migration issues with the MFA's
Director for Multilateral Affairs Eduardo Galvez, MFA Head of
OAS/Specialized Agencies Patricio Powell, and regional
diplomats.


4. (SBU) Post delivered the demarche on Ambassador Swing's
candidacy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2007
(ref B),and again in advance of Ambassador Swing's April 1
visit. MFA officials reiterated during Ambassador Swing's
visit that his credentials and experience were impressive,
and they would carefully consider his candidacy. Post will
inform Department of any further developments.


5. (U) PRM Maura Nicholson has cleared this message.
URBAN