Media Report December 25-28, 2009

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001254 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: Media Report December 25-28, 2009 Former President Frei's Death ¶1. The FBI's report has gained unexpected prominence in the probe on the death of former President Eduardo Frei Montalva. While the plaintiffs lack its validity, the defendants cite it as a proof to delegitimize the thesis about his poisoning. The confusion rests on the confidentiality with which its content has been handled, especially from the FBI, since so far it has only released information about the non existence of toxic elements in the analyzed tissues. When the Chilean toxicologists (who examined the remains of the former President) requested for the FBI's specification on the toxic substances identified, they only found the silence of the forensic investigator in charge: Kimberly Murga. Dr. Murga is currently working at the Las Vegas Police Lab. She did not reply to Que Pasa's inquiries. (Conservative, news weekly Que Pasa, 12/25) ¶2. Story examining the series of conclusions reached by one of the Chilean toxicologists who examined the remains of former President Feri Montalva. Dr. Laura B????rgel's report noted that the victim was exposed to thallium and sulphur mustard on three occasions. The document revealed that they took blood samples from President Feri's son, Jorge Frei Ruiz-Tagle, to compare the results. (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio, 12/28) OAS Secretary General ¶3. Outgoing OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza is seeking to advance the upcoming May elections to fill his current position. Insulza seeks his reelection and at present does not have a contender. The initiative, proposed by Colombia and strongly supported by Chile, has been rejected by the United States and Venezuela. The latter has been leading a proposal to run its own candidate. Insulza's game, which is supported by Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez, is to narrow down any other eventual competitor's chances. Sources close to Insulza believe that Chavez' offensive aims at putting pressure on the current Secretary General rather than on presenting a candidate in order to request more guarantees in exchange for support. Within La Moneda there is a similar idea in regard to Washington's stance. Reportedly, the latter dismissed promoting Costa Rican Oscar Arias and is now considering "drawing the line," and requesting that Insulza take a tougher position on Caracas. Since June, when Insulza supported putting an end to a veto for Cuba's reentrance to the OAS, his relations with Washington have not been at their best. In late May, in El Salvador, Insulza had a strong conversation with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Washington flank reopened again with the Honduran crisis which raised criticisms in the U.S. over his handling of the situation. (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 12/27) ¶4. Editorial column stating the inconvenience of moving forward the election for OAS Secretary General: "Due to the fact that the next Chilean government will be the one to interact with whomever results elected --or reelected--, it is more convenient to allow it to determine the way to face the election process for secretary general... Not speeding up the schedule would give time to discuss certain subjects prior to his eventual reelection. The Chilean contending candidacy (opposition to the government coalition) has been critical of the way in which the secretary general has participated in the Chilean electoral process... A first requisite for an eventual reelection should be to have (Insulza) abandon such attitude that confuses his role and ends up becoming a distraction to his job in Washington... The proposal to move forward the election caused an unusual consensus between the United States and Venezuela, whose ambassadors ruled out the idea introduced by Colombia..." (La Tercera ,12/26 Chile-U.S. ¶5. The United States led foreign investments in Chile during 2009, mainly due to Wal-Mart's arrival. Since 1974, when legislation protecting foreign investment came into force, the U.S. has invested a total of $20 billion dollars, thus consolidating itself as the major foreign investor in the country. (El Mercurio, 12/28) Copenhagen ¶6. Column by international pundit Raul Sohr : "The Copenhagen Disaster" "Only now one appreciates the depth of the debacle experienced at the largest international conference in recent years... There are no goals or stated commitments. Much less control mechanisms and sanctions ... The lack of respect for protocols reached unseen levels... From Obama's perspective, the results were optimum: he did not assume commitments for the Senate to revoke, and he made China and India adhere to a process led by Washington... Beyond the considerations for U.S. domestic politics, the happenings in Copenhagen are already bringing regrettable consequences... Quite often several traffic accidents are needed to prompt the installation of a traffic light. In this case, several environmental disasters will be necessary in order to consider the measures that should have been adopted at Copenhagen." (Government-owned, editorially independent, La Nacion, 12/25) Latin America ¶7. Editorial round-up column on international affairs: "At the end of this current year and regarding peace in Latin America there is not much to celebrate. On the contrary, violence and instability are increasing in the region. Although not interconnected, recent developments in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela show this." (El Mercurio, 12/28) SIMONS