Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO109
2009-02-06 15:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 6
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000109
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 6
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000109
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 6
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Dailies highlighted figures released by the Central Banks that
economic growth for the last quarter of 2008 amounted to 1.1% of
GDP, the lowest in six years. Coverage included another case of a
falsely-identified disappearance victim from the Military government
era.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. All dailies reported that The New York Times (NYT) ran a new
article on the Chilean salmon industry and the effects of the ISA
virus. They concur that although the NYT article acknowledges that
the government and the salmon industry have made progress in
resolving the outbreak of the virus, it questions the effectiveness
of these efforts by quoting critics who say that "the problems
persist." FDA reports of last year's inspection shows that salmon
producers continue to use chemicals and medication banned in the
United States. Dailies also inform that an FDA delegation will come
to Chile in March to work with its counterparts -- Sernapesca -- on
the issue.
3. Editorial: "No one foresaw that Obama's image would receive
such a strong blow in his first days in office.... The first
surprise was Timothy Geithner... then Nancy Killefer... and Tom
Daschle.... In the latter case, Obama resorted to charm for which
he is literally adored. 'I screwed up,' he said.... But observers
are already beginning to ask themselves if the President is the kind
of man who makes mistakes with alarming frequency in the choice of
his advisors, or if it is simply that he has nowhere from where to
pick, because the entire U.S. 'political class' suffers from
committing minors sins or corruption? ... Thus far Obama has shown
he is an explicit and tough critic of himself and only time will
tell how long the efficiency of that response can last... (because)
the mass media... have shown that the 'Obamania' of the campaign and
the swearing-in does not mean unconditional support" (La Segunda,
conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 2/5).
Economic growth
--------------
4. The Imacec puts GDP growth at 1.1% for the last quarter of 2008,
which is the lowest since 1998 (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000; Diario Financiero,
business and financial, 2/5).
Human Rights
--------------
5. The UDI party will request Human Rights Watch to intercede
before foreign governments that presumably protect individuals
sentenced by Chile's courts of justice for the murder of Senator
Jaime Guzman, founder of the party (La Nacion, government-owned,
editorially independent, circ 4,200, 2/5).
SIMONS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 6
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Dailies highlighted figures released by the Central Banks that
economic growth for the last quarter of 2008 amounted to 1.1% of
GDP, the lowest in six years. Coverage included another case of a
falsely-identified disappearance victim from the Military government
era.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. All dailies reported that The New York Times (NYT) ran a new
article on the Chilean salmon industry and the effects of the ISA
virus. They concur that although the NYT article acknowledges that
the government and the salmon industry have made progress in
resolving the outbreak of the virus, it questions the effectiveness
of these efforts by quoting critics who say that "the problems
persist." FDA reports of last year's inspection shows that salmon
producers continue to use chemicals and medication banned in the
United States. Dailies also inform that an FDA delegation will come
to Chile in March to work with its counterparts -- Sernapesca -- on
the issue.
3. Editorial: "No one foresaw that Obama's image would receive
such a strong blow in his first days in office.... The first
surprise was Timothy Geithner... then Nancy Killefer... and Tom
Daschle.... In the latter case, Obama resorted to charm for which
he is literally adored. 'I screwed up,' he said.... But observers
are already beginning to ask themselves if the President is the kind
of man who makes mistakes with alarming frequency in the choice of
his advisors, or if it is simply that he has nowhere from where to
pick, because the entire U.S. 'political class' suffers from
committing minors sins or corruption? ... Thus far Obama has shown
he is an explicit and tough critic of himself and only time will
tell how long the efficiency of that response can last... (because)
the mass media... have shown that the 'Obamania' of the campaign and
the swearing-in does not mean unconditional support" (La Segunda,
conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 2/5).
Economic growth
--------------
4. The Imacec puts GDP growth at 1.1% for the last quarter of 2008,
which is the lowest since 1998 (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000; Diario Financiero,
business and financial, 2/5).
Human Rights
--------------
5. The UDI party will request Human Rights Watch to intercede
before foreign governments that presumably protect individuals
sentenced by Chile's courts of justice for the murder of Senator
Jaime Guzman, founder of the party (La Nacion, government-owned,
editorially independent, circ 4,200, 2/5).
SIMONS