Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO118
2009-02-10 16:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 10
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000118
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 10
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000118
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 10
Leading Stories
--------------
1. La Moneda spokesman Francisco Vidal criticized the banking sector
for conducting massive layoffs and urged the private sector to do
its share in helping lower the effects of the financial crisis.
Vidal also urged the Central Bank to lower interest rates. Dailies
continued to report on the demands of the former inhabitants of
Chaiten for the government to invest in rebuilding the town buried
by last year's volcanic eruption. Government spokesman Vidal said
yesterday the government will only invest in their relocation.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Salmon of the Americas (SOTA),an organization that encompasses
Chilean, U.S. and Canadian producers, rebutted last week's New York
Times article on Chilean salmon. SOTA said the newspaper is
misleading readers into believing that the industry is not abiding
by FDA standards (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 2/10).
Bachelet Visit to Cuba
--------------
3. Asked whether President Bachelet would talk about human right
and dissidents with Raul Castro in her trip to Cuba, Foreign Affairs
Minister Alejandro Foxley said, "No issue is excluded" from the
talks that will take place between both chiefs of state or between
him and his Cuban counterpart (La Tercera,
conservative,independent,circ. 101,000, 2/10).
4. In the context of Bachelet's trip to Cuba, Minister Foxley
reiterated that Chile's foreign policy promotes integration on the
basis of "diversity and respect for all nations" (La Nacion,
government-owned, editorially independent, circ. 4, 200, 2/10).
5. Human Rights Watch Director Jose Miguel Vivanco said he is
confident that in her meeting with Raul Castro, Bachelet will bring
up the issue of human rights abuses," adding that a meeting with the
dissidents" is not essential" (El Mercurio, 2/10).
China
--------------
6. Gonzalo Duarte (DC) is among the congressmen who will travel
with House Chairman Francisco Encina to China on an official visit
starting February 18. The Socialist Party has criticized the
Christian Democratic Party for questioning human rights in Cuba, but
not in China. The delegation to China will focus on economic,
cultural, and political issues (La Tercera, 2/10).
Venezuela/Brazil
--------------
7. Presidential candidate Eduardo Frei (DC) said that "between an
axis" led by Lula Da Silva and another by Chavez, "I would never
stand on the side of populism and demagogy, which only leads to
greater poverty, insecurity, and misery." Frei also said Brazil
should have a more active role in the region as "an organizer" (La
Nacion, 2/10).
Trade Figures Decline
--------------
8. Central Bank figures show that Chile's exports dropped 41% in
January of this year compared to the same period in 2008. Imports
also decreased (25.5%),but less than the figure for exports (La
Nacion, 2/10).
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 10
Leading Stories
--------------
1. La Moneda spokesman Francisco Vidal criticized the banking sector
for conducting massive layoffs and urged the private sector to do
its share in helping lower the effects of the financial crisis.
Vidal also urged the Central Bank to lower interest rates. Dailies
continued to report on the demands of the former inhabitants of
Chaiten for the government to invest in rebuilding the town buried
by last year's volcanic eruption. Government spokesman Vidal said
yesterday the government will only invest in their relocation.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Salmon of the Americas (SOTA),an organization that encompasses
Chilean, U.S. and Canadian producers, rebutted last week's New York
Times article on Chilean salmon. SOTA said the newspaper is
misleading readers into believing that the industry is not abiding
by FDA standards (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 2/10).
Bachelet Visit to Cuba
--------------
3. Asked whether President Bachelet would talk about human right
and dissidents with Raul Castro in her trip to Cuba, Foreign Affairs
Minister Alejandro Foxley said, "No issue is excluded" from the
talks that will take place between both chiefs of state or between
him and his Cuban counterpart (La Tercera,
conservative,independent,circ. 101,000, 2/10).
4. In the context of Bachelet's trip to Cuba, Minister Foxley
reiterated that Chile's foreign policy promotes integration on the
basis of "diversity and respect for all nations" (La Nacion,
government-owned, editorially independent, circ. 4, 200, 2/10).
5. Human Rights Watch Director Jose Miguel Vivanco said he is
confident that in her meeting with Raul Castro, Bachelet will bring
up the issue of human rights abuses," adding that a meeting with the
dissidents" is not essential" (El Mercurio, 2/10).
China
--------------
6. Gonzalo Duarte (DC) is among the congressmen who will travel
with House Chairman Francisco Encina to China on an official visit
starting February 18. The Socialist Party has criticized the
Christian Democratic Party for questioning human rights in Cuba, but
not in China. The delegation to China will focus on economic,
cultural, and political issues (La Tercera, 2/10).
Venezuela/Brazil
--------------
7. Presidential candidate Eduardo Frei (DC) said that "between an
axis" led by Lula Da Silva and another by Chavez, "I would never
stand on the side of populism and demagogy, which only leads to
greater poverty, insecurity, and misery." Frei also said Brazil
should have a more active role in the region as "an organizer" (La
Nacion, 2/10).
Trade Figures Decline
--------------
8. Central Bank figures show that Chile's exports dropped 41% in
January of this year compared to the same period in 2008. Imports
also decreased (25.5%),but less than the figure for exports (La
Nacion, 2/10).
SIMONS