Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO233
2009-03-11 19:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MARCH 11
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000233
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 11
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000233
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 11
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Following yesterday's global market gains, Chile's stock market
registered its most significant rise in the last five months.
Dailies also report that according to a University of Lima survey,
59% of Peruvians approve of the free trade agreement between Peru
and Chile.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons emphasized Chile's sound economic
management and said that the global economic crisis "is a difficult
moment, but it is also an opportunity to expand markets, bring new
products, and keep up the optimism" (La Nacion, government-owned,
editorially independent, 3/11).
3. In a breakfast at his residence to present the United States as
the special guest of the Trade One 2009 fair in November, the
Ambassador expressed his concern with the expansion of protectionism
and said the G20 "is committed to resisting protectionism" and will
try to keep markets open (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/11.
4. Ten Chilean high school students will travel to the United
States through the Youth Ambassadors Program. 17-year old Andres
Vargas is proud that a community as small as his has its own
ambassador to the United States. "I want to represent my country
and learn more about American culture," he said. The students will
visit the White House, Congress, and meet with U.S. representatives.
Asked about the possibility of meeting Michelle Obama, Vargas said,
"It would be a very life-enriching experience" (Las Ultimas
Noticias, leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000; La Tercera,
3/11).
5. The article, "The Chilean on Clinton's Staff," states Carla
Menares works at the State Department in the office responsible for
monitoring trafficking in persons. She described Chile as an
"origin, transit, and destination for trafficking in persons," but
added that it's hard to say if this is a "massive" activity or not,
because it is a type of crime that is kept secret. Menares said
that Chile has made progress, but must augment trials against the
traffickers, "not just in regard to sexual exploitation, but also
forced labor, which we see in agriculture and domestic services" (El
Mercurio's Ya magazine, 3/11).
Cuba
--------------
6. Several Defense Ministers attending the UNASUR South America
Defense Council meeting in Santiago stated the United States should
lift the commercial embargo on Cuba. "Evidently, the
reincorporation of one country that was expelled far too many years
ago and is a pending issue in the region," said Argentine Defense
Minister Nilda Garre. The host, Chilean Minister Jose Goni said,
"Chile believes as a matter of principle that the American community
must include all its members" (La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 3/11)
7. Foreign Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley met with Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee officials. Reportedly, in that meeting
Foxley gave a detailed account of Bachelet's trip to Cuba in
February and the senators expressed their objection to the purpose
of the trip and its aftermath, which hurt Chile's image abroad (El
Mercurio, 3/11).
Terrorist
--------------
8. Colombia released new evidence that the FARC was in coordination
with an array of leftist and subversive organizations in the region
to promote the "Bolivarian Revolution," reported "El Tiempo de
Bogota." This would include Chile's Leftist Revolutionary Movement,
MIR (El Mercurio, 3/11).
9. The Carabineros police identified 13 locations in the city that
could be the target of violent demonstrations on the Day of the
Young Combatant on March 29. A recent bomb that detonated in a car
dealer in Providencia triggered a preventive police plan (El
Mercurio, 3/11).
Environment
--------------
10. A World Bank report supports the use of hydroelectric power and
the construction of hydroelectric plants -- such as the HydroAysen
dam project in southern Chile -- as the cheapest and environmentally
friendliest means for Latin America to fight the greenhouse gas
effect (El Mercurio, 3/11).
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 11
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Following yesterday's global market gains, Chile's stock market
registered its most significant rise in the last five months.
Dailies also report that according to a University of Lima survey,
59% of Peruvians approve of the free trade agreement between Peru
and Chile.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons emphasized Chile's sound economic
management and said that the global economic crisis "is a difficult
moment, but it is also an opportunity to expand markets, bring new
products, and keep up the optimism" (La Nacion, government-owned,
editorially independent, 3/11).
3. In a breakfast at his residence to present the United States as
the special guest of the Trade One 2009 fair in November, the
Ambassador expressed his concern with the expansion of protectionism
and said the G20 "is committed to resisting protectionism" and will
try to keep markets open (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/11.
4. Ten Chilean high school students will travel to the United
States through the Youth Ambassadors Program. 17-year old Andres
Vargas is proud that a community as small as his has its own
ambassador to the United States. "I want to represent my country
and learn more about American culture," he said. The students will
visit the White House, Congress, and meet with U.S. representatives.
Asked about the possibility of meeting Michelle Obama, Vargas said,
"It would be a very life-enriching experience" (Las Ultimas
Noticias, leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000; La Tercera,
3/11).
5. The article, "The Chilean on Clinton's Staff," states Carla
Menares works at the State Department in the office responsible for
monitoring trafficking in persons. She described Chile as an
"origin, transit, and destination for trafficking in persons," but
added that it's hard to say if this is a "massive" activity or not,
because it is a type of crime that is kept secret. Menares said
that Chile has made progress, but must augment trials against the
traffickers, "not just in regard to sexual exploitation, but also
forced labor, which we see in agriculture and domestic services" (El
Mercurio's Ya magazine, 3/11).
Cuba
--------------
6. Several Defense Ministers attending the UNASUR South America
Defense Council meeting in Santiago stated the United States should
lift the commercial embargo on Cuba. "Evidently, the
reincorporation of one country that was expelled far too many years
ago and is a pending issue in the region," said Argentine Defense
Minister Nilda Garre. The host, Chilean Minister Jose Goni said,
"Chile believes as a matter of principle that the American community
must include all its members" (La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 3/11)
7. Foreign Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley met with Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee officials. Reportedly, in that meeting
Foxley gave a detailed account of Bachelet's trip to Cuba in
February and the senators expressed their objection to the purpose
of the trip and its aftermath, which hurt Chile's image abroad (El
Mercurio, 3/11).
Terrorist
--------------
8. Colombia released new evidence that the FARC was in coordination
with an array of leftist and subversive organizations in the region
to promote the "Bolivarian Revolution," reported "El Tiempo de
Bogota." This would include Chile's Leftist Revolutionary Movement,
MIR (El Mercurio, 3/11).
9. The Carabineros police identified 13 locations in the city that
could be the target of violent demonstrations on the Day of the
Young Combatant on March 29. A recent bomb that detonated in a car
dealer in Providencia triggered a preventive police plan (El
Mercurio, 3/11).
Environment
--------------
10. A World Bank report supports the use of hydroelectric power and
the construction of hydroelectric plants -- such as the HydroAysen
dam project in southern Chile -- as the cheapest and environmentally
friendliest means for Latin America to fight the greenhouse gas
effect (El Mercurio, 3/11).
SIMONS