Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO227
2009-03-10 18:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MARCH 10
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000227
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 10
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000227
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 10
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The government is requesting Congress approve US$1.47 billion to
finance Santiago's public transportation system through 2014. The
Central Bank's economic growth estimates for 2009 dropped to 0.2%,
down from 2-3% estimates.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Editorial "Poisoned Grapes": "It has been twenty years since two
grapes allegedly contaminated with cyanide severely disrupted
commercial ties between Chile and the United States. The
unfortunate incident -- which resulted in the banned product for a
week from U.S., Canadian, and some European markets -- left in Chile
a wounded perception about the attitude toward our country, which
has not fully healed....
The court proved that the grapes were not contaminated in Chile, but
in spite of that the United States did not indemnify those affected.
Chile's export image was damaged and companies suffered severe
losses... that employed 200,000 workers. The case was closed and
there were no charges brought against anyone. But until today there
has been not even an apology... or explanation.... This is a
terrible precedent that no chancery can forget and that is always in
mind when the Department of State urges a country to comply with an
international order.... The disillusion is a bitter mark in the
bilateral relation that has not been forgotten. It's unlikely that
the United States would behave the same way with a developed nation
that it calls a friend, and the absence of minimum tact left the
feeling that our relationship is of less value.... It would be more
than timely to correct this now to close the chapter and begin a
healthy and renewed relationship (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/10).
3. Papa John's pizza chain will meet in April with local businesses
interested in acquiring the franchise. The chain has tried to enter
the local market several times before (Diario Financiero, business
and financial, circ. 30,000, 3/10).
Economy
--------------
4. The Central Bank estimated that Chile's economy will grow only
0.2% in 2009 (El Mercurio, 3/10).
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 - MARCH 10
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The government is requesting Congress approve US$1.47 billion to
finance Santiago's public transportation system through 2014. The
Central Bank's economic growth estimates for 2009 dropped to 0.2%,
down from 2-3% estimates.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Editorial "Poisoned Grapes": "It has been twenty years since two
grapes allegedly contaminated with cyanide severely disrupted
commercial ties between Chile and the United States. The
unfortunate incident -- which resulted in the banned product for a
week from U.S., Canadian, and some European markets -- left in Chile
a wounded perception about the attitude toward our country, which
has not fully healed....
The court proved that the grapes were not contaminated in Chile, but
in spite of that the United States did not indemnify those affected.
Chile's export image was damaged and companies suffered severe
losses... that employed 200,000 workers. The case was closed and
there were no charges brought against anyone. But until today there
has been not even an apology... or explanation.... This is a
terrible precedent that no chancery can forget and that is always in
mind when the Department of State urges a country to comply with an
international order.... The disillusion is a bitter mark in the
bilateral relation that has not been forgotten. It's unlikely that
the United States would behave the same way with a developed nation
that it calls a friend, and the absence of minimum tact left the
feeling that our relationship is of less value.... It would be more
than timely to correct this now to close the chapter and begin a
healthy and renewed relationship (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/10).
3. Papa John's pizza chain will meet in April with local businesses
interested in acquiring the franchise. The chain has tried to enter
the local market several times before (Diario Financiero, business
and financial, circ. 30,000, 3/10).
Economy
--------------
4. The Central Bank estimated that Chile's economy will grow only
0.2% in 2009 (El Mercurio, 3/10).
SIMONS