NEW INTERPOL INTERIM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000082 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: FBI KCRM PGOV PINR PREL PTER SNAR SUBJECT: NEW INTERPOL INTERIM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT A KEY EMBASSY CONTACT ¶1. (U) The head of Chile's investigative police (Policia de Investigaciones de Chile - PICH),Arturo Herrera Verdugo, was January 22 named to Interim President of Interpol's Executive Committee, in the wake of the resignation of South African Jackie Selbi, who faces corruption charges. According to press reports, as the most senior of the three vice-presidents on Interpol's 13 member Executive Committee (nine regional Delegates, three VP's, and the President) and pursuant to Interpol practice, he moves up by default should the President position fall vacant. Herrera is scheduled to be confirmed as Interim President when the Executive Committee meets February 14 in Lyons. If confirmed, he will serve in the position until Interpol's 186 member General Assembly convenes in October 2008, in St. Petersburg, Russia, to vote a new President, who is elected from the ranks of the three vice presidents. Herrera has not announced whether he will seek election as president; so far only Singaporean Boon Hui Khoo has said he intends to run for the presidential position. ¶2. (SBU) The U.S. and Chile cooperate closely on terrorist financing and money laundering issues; Herrera has been a key Embassy contact on these matters. In his Interim Director position at Interpol we can expect he will remain a valuable liaison on addressing transnational criminal matters. SIMONS