Santiago Dec. 7 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001190 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI SUBJECT: Santiago Dec. 7 Media Report Chile-U.S. ¶1. President Bachelet will meet with Governor Pawlenty next week in Santiago. Pawlenty is "the most probable Republican contender against Obama in 2012" (Conservative, afternoon daily La Segunda, 12/4). ¶2. Interview with Mary Wilson, president of the League of Women Voters entitled, "United States Supports Inclusion of Women in Politics" (Government-owned La Nacion, 12/7) PAS program. Honduras ¶3. Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela said that given the complexity of the situation in Honduras, things seem to be moving in the right direction in that country. Valenzuela admitted that the United States had been somewhat "disappointed" with the Congressional decision in Honduras against Zelaya's reinstatement, but added, that "one must find other solutions." He said that the fundamental issue now is to fulfill two conditions of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose agreement: Form a unified government and a Truth Commission. "What is at state is the pillar of the Inter American system, which is the collective defense of democracy," said Valenzuela, adding that the issue is how to improve the Democratic Charter to "truly protect democracy." Asked whether the United States had changed its position with regard to Honduras, Valenzuela said Washington has been consistent. He explained that after the international community strongly condemned the coup, the Micheletti government tried to justify what it had done and that it was at that point that some in and outside the United States began to see Zelaya's ousting as legitimate. "We never shared that position," said Valenzuela, adding that after this point the United States insisted on seeking "a negotiated solution to revoke the authoritarian situation," in Honduras. The United States, he said, recognized the election because there was an ongoing negotiation. "Many thought that an OAS statement saying that the coup had been a severe violation of the Inter American charter was enough for Zelaya's reinstatement, but that did not happen and the problem then was to decide on what steps to take .... We could not recall our ambassador, because how could we assist with the return to democracy if we had no ambassador? That is why although we condemned the coup, we always looked for a solution and that is where we are with the OAS" concluded Valenzuela (El Mercurio, 12/6). ¶4. Valenzuela also defended OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza stating that the secretary's role is to find mechanisms to negotiate the reestablishment of democracy on behalf of other countries. From that viewpoint, Valenzuela said Insulza had done "a good job" (El Mercurio, 12/6) ¶5. OAS Secretary General Insulza said that President-elect Porfirio Lobo is in the position to restore democracy in his country by ending Zelaya's "persecution, reestablishing human rights and public liberties, and by calling on all democratic forces to reach one national agreement. " The secretary also said that since the OAS did not send observers to the election he could not offer a "final verdict" on the election. However, he said, "it seems that there won't be internal obstacles to Lobo's taking office" (El Mercurio, 12/6). ¶6. Editorial: "President-elect Porfirio Lobo received strong backing from the United States, which accepted Sunday's election as legitimate because it was 'peaceful' and 'fulfilled international standards' ... It is clear that Washington changed its initial opposition to the process in Honduras for a more pragmatic stance that reflects (recent) events and the will of the people of Honduras to elect a new government.... Assistant Secretary Arturo Valenzuela ... is being a realist in saying that 'it makes no sense to make major decisions' until Lobo takes office.... But the return of normality in Honduras has not yet concluded, because two conditions must still be met: The installment of a unified government and the creation of a Truth Commission...and until that occurs, Honduras will not have normal relations with the OAS nor receive the financial aid is so strongly needs" (Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 12/7). Afghanistan ¶7. Editorial: "President Obama might have been somewhat uncomfortable announcing that he would send additional troops to Afghanistan just days before receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.... But since he became a candidate, Obama has been saying that the focus of attention should shift from Iraq to Afghanistan, which in his opinion is the real battlefield against terrorists.... In this regard, what he is doing now is consistent with what he said before arriving to the White House. Obama's goal has always been to defeat the Taliban and gradually transfer security to the Afghan government, armed forces, and police. That is the real challenge that the United States and the European allies face today... because until the transition occurs... the allies will have to continue dealing with the government of Afghanistan, which has proven to be corrupt and inefficient" (El Mercurio, 12/7). Bolivia ¶8. Headlines: "Evo Morales wins with 63%, takes control of the legislature, and thinks about reelection in 2015" (El Mercurio, 12/7); "Morales reelected with 62% and takes control of the Senate" (La Tercera, 12/7). Local ¶9. A report by think tank "Libertad y Desarollo" shows that President Bachelet's cabinet members have been in government an average of 13 years since the onset of democracy 20 years ago (El Mercurio, 12/5). Chile-Peru ¶10. In an interview with Argentine daily "Pagina 12," Peru's Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde said his country is "satisfied" with Chile's commitment to investigate the accusations of espionage, but added that he expects to receive an answer before a new administration takes office in Chile. Garcia Belaunde said that "while President Bachelet has "at all times tried to have good relations with Peru," these relations have been hurt by the Peru's maritime border claim in The Hague. He also touched another sensitive bilateral issue: "We don't understand why Chile spends so much on weapons and why those weapons point to Peru" (La Tercera, 12/6). Copenhagen Conference ¶11. Editorial: "The Chilean delegation attending the Copenhagen Conference has one clear idea in mind: A 'green' country is good for the national interests, not just politically, but also economically and socially.... What the United States and China decide at the conference will be crucial for Chile's exports, because of the greater environmental demands over the next years... Regardless of whether the interest in the environment is the result of a true commitment or because it is a source of income, the private sector will have to look at the environment as a new element of investment" (Financial daily Diario Financiero, 12/7). SIMONS