CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MARCH 5

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000207 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 - MARCH 5 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. Former government official Patricio Rojas testified in the framework of a long-lasting investigation regarding the autopsy of former President Frei (father of the current candidate) in 1982. The recent stabbing of a teacher by a student has prompted reports on violence against teachers. U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. El Mercurio interview with Ambassador Hector Morales, U.S. Representative to the OAS, headlined, "White House Policy toward Cuba is Under Review." On Cuba's possibly rejoining the OAS, Ambassador Morales said: "We all want Cuba to join the Inter-American system in the not too distant future. However there are certain democratic principles that are in the OAS and Inter-American Democratic charters that the 34 countries have accepted. We hope that Cuba will someday also decide to accept them. I believe we all want that day to come." Asked about the Obama administration's stance on the embargo, Morales said, "What I can tell you is that this policy (to Cuba) is under review." ¶3. Morales was also asked whether UNSAUR and similar organizations could undermine U.S. influence in the region and about his opinion on Chavez' eventual use of these organizations to promote his views: "They (the organizations) are valuable because there is a need to find collective solutions. In that regard, I don't see it as a decrease, for example, of the role of the OAS.... At this moment it's important we all work together. We must support the multilateral organizations that we have, and that is why I believe the President and the Secretary of State have been talking so extensively about multilateral policies" (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/5). ¶4. Captioned photograph of Secretary Clinton and Chilean Ambassador to the United States Mariano Fernandez: The first diplomatic encounter between the GOC and the new U.S. administration occurred during the presentation of accredited ambassadors in Washington, during which Secretary Clinton greeted the Chilean Ambassador (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 3/4). ¶5. Editorial: "Buy American is the one of the most dangerous slogans we've heard in international trade in the past years.... The clause not only affects... U.S. access to raw material in other parts of the world; The greater damage is that... the international system would be watching its most important player activate an openly protectionist policy.... The temptation to promote domestic employment and loans by limiting foreign trade could start a dangerous spiral that could revoke the enormous progress achieved thanks to commercial openness.... It also undermines fair trade just when it is needed most" (America Economia monthly magazine, 2/21). Chile-Peru -------------- ¶6. President Bachelet defended the Chile-Peru FTA that came into effect this month saying the accord benefits both countries. The nationalist opposition in Peru is trying to annul the treaty (Diario Financiero, business and financial, circ. 30,000, 3/5). Local -------------- ¶7. The State Defense Council filed a suit against the managers of the Council of the Americas for illegal appropriation of funds. The council is responsible for administrating funds from international organizations for the government to fight AIDS (El Mercurio, 3/5) ¶8. Minister for the Environment Ana Lya Uriarte said Chile will join the "Global Blackout" programmed for March 28 at 8:30 pm. Uriarte said La Moneda Presidential Palace and the Entel communications tower will be among the buildings that will turn off all their lights (La Segunda, 3/4). ¶9. The Sunday Times listed opposition presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera as the 46th ranked "green millionaire." Pinera owns the 120,000 hectare Tantauco Park in southern Chile (Las Ultimas Noticias, leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000, 3/5). Cuba -------------- ¶10. Editorial: "It is a symptom that several of the removed (officers) this week... were replaced by individuals who represent the 'old school'.... The recently sworn-in U.S. President suggested in his campaign a change in U.S. policy toward Cuba. Although for now... it does not seem possible that the commercial embargo will be lifted, it is possible that there will be a gradual softening of its terms.... Given the current international crisis, the possibility that the commercial restricts could be lifted is highly important for both Castros and the idea of a dialogue seems attractive. But given this weeks' events, it is very unlikely... that anyone in the regime is willing to move toward anything similar to a genuine political openness" (La Segunda, 3/4). ¶11. The recent cabinet changes in Cuba are a response to signals sent by the Obama administration, which has already outlined a new strategy by promising to lift restrictions to travel to the island, said former chief of staff of the Castro regime Alcibiades Hidalgo. Some analysts say the cabinet change is a way for Raul Castro to shield himself from an eventual change in relations with the United States, since the new officers are historical figures of the Cuban Communist Party and armed forces (La Tercera, 3/5). Haiti -------------- ¶11. Editorial: "Chile's reasons to participate in the peace mission in Haiti are as valid today as they were five years ago, and have to do with the way in which Chile's sees its role in the world and the responsibility that this entails.... (However) it is not desirable for the mission to extend with no clear horizon or for it to conclude without the appropriate assessment of its performance" (La Tercera, 3/4). SIMONS