Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO297
2009-03-31 18:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MARCH 31
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000297
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 31
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000297
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 31
Leading Stories
--------------
1. There was extensive coverage on the scandal caused by the
revelation that Chile's most prominent pharmacy chains Ahumada,
Salcobrand, and Cruz Verde, colluded to hike prices on more than 200
products since 2005. The National Economic Attorneys' Office is
investigating the alleged collusion. Dailies also report on the
Concertacion's first presidential debate last night between Eduardo
Frei and Jose Antonio Gomez.
Vice President Biden's Visit
--------------
2. Op-ed by American Chamber of Commerce President Ricardo Garcia
on Biden's visit: "An official visit to Chile is significant and
shows that the new U.S. administration has confidence in Chile,
which has shown institutional and economic stability and has proven
to be a trustworthy commercial and political partner.... Chile and
the United States are joined by more than just flourishing trade.
There is also the way in we do business and the strong academic and
cultural ties. There is a solid argument for Chile to give priority
to and strengthen ties with the United States. We must not lose
sight of the signals our most important commercial partner is
sending us with the visit of its Vice President" (El Mercurio,
conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/31).
3. Editorial: "Jose Biden's visit is a valuable sign, although the
intensity of Obama's proposed 'new alliance' with Latin America is
unpredictable (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000,
3/30).
4. Interview with U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons: "The visit of Vice
President Biden is a reflection of the great interest (of the
United) in listening to the leaders of the hemisphere and in trying
to forge a common effort in the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad
in mid-April," said Simons. "The summit (in Vina) is a valuable
opportunity for our Vice President and leaders of large number of
South American countries to have a dialogue before the Summit of the
Americas," he added. Simons said that Biden's visit, "is the first
of a high-ranking White House official to a Latin American
country... and shows that the Obama administration has had a
strategy of liaison with the hemisphere from the start" (Regional El
Mercurio de Valparaiso, 3/27).
Other U.S.-Related News
--------------
5. Column by former Finance Minister Hernan Buchi: "The direct
involvement of President Obama and his admitting the role banks have
played in the crisis could mark the beginning of a new attitude on
the part of the United States government. If this is the case, we
could be near a path to the final solution to put this crisis behind
us" (El Mercurio, 3/31).
6. The two Chilean college students murdered in February in
Pensacola, Florida were in the United States as part of the World
and Travel USA "full program," which guarantees jobs and average
pay. But upon arriving to the United States the students found the
terms of the program were not being met and asked the Chilean
Consulate for assistance. They discovered that the agency was not
listed as a 'full program" sponsor, which means that it was not
obligated to provide jobs. Reportedly, Work and Travel has the
approval of the U.S. government (El Mostrador on-line news agency,
3/31).
7. U.S. experts on intellectual and industrial property rights and
border issues will participate in two seminars in Iquique, northern
Chile, on March 30-31 and April 23 (Iquique digital on-line news,
3/31).
8. U.S. beef exports to Chile stopped in 2008 due to labeling
issues. Now both governments clarified the provision on labeling
and have agreed to renew these exports (El Mostrador, 3/30).
9. Chile and the United States agreed to open the U.S. market for
Chilean oranges and grapefruit starting May, said the Foreign
Ministry's International Economic Relations Bureau Director Carlos
Furche (El Mercurio, 3/30).
10. Chilean Arturo Valenzuela, Director of Georgetown University's
Center for Latin American Studies and former Clinton administration
advisor, is the most likely candidate to head the bureau responsible
of U.S. relations with Latin America (La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 3/29).
Local
--------------
11. Chilean Ambassador to the Czech Republic Marcelo Rozas wrote a
column criticizing the purpose of international summits in general.
In that column, Rozas made ironic comments about UK Prime Minister
Gordon Brown's views on the objectives of the Progressive Governance
Summit, which Bachelet was hosting. Reportedly, Bachelet was
irritated with Rozas' comments about Brown, one of her important
guests at the summit, and asked for the Ambassador's resignation (La
Tercera, 3/31).
12. A bomb detonated outside a Cruz Verde pharmacy in La Serena on
Sunday night causing minor damage (El Mercurio, 3/31).
13. March 29, the day of "the Young Combatant," concluded with five
injured policemen, several arrests, and one wounded 12-year-old girl
who was hit by a rubber bullet. The night of the 29th was marked by
violent clashes with the police, as they tried to lift barricades
set on major streets and highways, stop the vandalizing of public
property, looting, and the throwing of metal chains at light posts
to cause power outages in many of the capital city's southernmost
neighborhoods (All dailies, 3/30).
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 31
Leading Stories
--------------
1. There was extensive coverage on the scandal caused by the
revelation that Chile's most prominent pharmacy chains Ahumada,
Salcobrand, and Cruz Verde, colluded to hike prices on more than 200
products since 2005. The National Economic Attorneys' Office is
investigating the alleged collusion. Dailies also report on the
Concertacion's first presidential debate last night between Eduardo
Frei and Jose Antonio Gomez.
Vice President Biden's Visit
--------------
2. Op-ed by American Chamber of Commerce President Ricardo Garcia
on Biden's visit: "An official visit to Chile is significant and
shows that the new U.S. administration has confidence in Chile,
which has shown institutional and economic stability and has proven
to be a trustworthy commercial and political partner.... Chile and
the United States are joined by more than just flourishing trade.
There is also the way in we do business and the strong academic and
cultural ties. There is a solid argument for Chile to give priority
to and strengthen ties with the United States. We must not lose
sight of the signals our most important commercial partner is
sending us with the visit of its Vice President" (El Mercurio,
conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/31).
3. Editorial: "Jose Biden's visit is a valuable sign, although the
intensity of Obama's proposed 'new alliance' with Latin America is
unpredictable (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000,
3/30).
4. Interview with U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons: "The visit of Vice
President Biden is a reflection of the great interest (of the
United) in listening to the leaders of the hemisphere and in trying
to forge a common effort in the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad
in mid-April," said Simons. "The summit (in Vina) is a valuable
opportunity for our Vice President and leaders of large number of
South American countries to have a dialogue before the Summit of the
Americas," he added. Simons said that Biden's visit, "is the first
of a high-ranking White House official to a Latin American
country... and shows that the Obama administration has had a
strategy of liaison with the hemisphere from the start" (Regional El
Mercurio de Valparaiso, 3/27).
Other U.S.-Related News
--------------
5. Column by former Finance Minister Hernan Buchi: "The direct
involvement of President Obama and his admitting the role banks have
played in the crisis could mark the beginning of a new attitude on
the part of the United States government. If this is the case, we
could be near a path to the final solution to put this crisis behind
us" (El Mercurio, 3/31).
6. The two Chilean college students murdered in February in
Pensacola, Florida were in the United States as part of the World
and Travel USA "full program," which guarantees jobs and average
pay. But upon arriving to the United States the students found the
terms of the program were not being met and asked the Chilean
Consulate for assistance. They discovered that the agency was not
listed as a 'full program" sponsor, which means that it was not
obligated to provide jobs. Reportedly, Work and Travel has the
approval of the U.S. government (El Mostrador on-line news agency,
3/31).
7. U.S. experts on intellectual and industrial property rights and
border issues will participate in two seminars in Iquique, northern
Chile, on March 30-31 and April 23 (Iquique digital on-line news,
3/31).
8. U.S. beef exports to Chile stopped in 2008 due to labeling
issues. Now both governments clarified the provision on labeling
and have agreed to renew these exports (El Mostrador, 3/30).
9. Chile and the United States agreed to open the U.S. market for
Chilean oranges and grapefruit starting May, said the Foreign
Ministry's International Economic Relations Bureau Director Carlos
Furche (El Mercurio, 3/30).
10. Chilean Arturo Valenzuela, Director of Georgetown University's
Center for Latin American Studies and former Clinton administration
advisor, is the most likely candidate to head the bureau responsible
of U.S. relations with Latin America (La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 3/29).
Local
--------------
11. Chilean Ambassador to the Czech Republic Marcelo Rozas wrote a
column criticizing the purpose of international summits in general.
In that column, Rozas made ironic comments about UK Prime Minister
Gordon Brown's views on the objectives of the Progressive Governance
Summit, which Bachelet was hosting. Reportedly, Bachelet was
irritated with Rozas' comments about Brown, one of her important
guests at the summit, and asked for the Ambassador's resignation (La
Tercera, 3/31).
12. A bomb detonated outside a Cruz Verde pharmacy in La Serena on
Sunday night causing minor damage (El Mercurio, 3/31).
13. March 29, the day of "the Young Combatant," concluded with five
injured policemen, several arrests, and one wounded 12-year-old girl
who was hit by a rubber bullet. The night of the 29th was marked by
violent clashes with the police, as they tried to lift barricades
set on major streets and highways, stop the vandalizing of public
property, looting, and the throwing of metal chains at light posts
to cause power outages in many of the capital city's southernmost
neighborhoods (All dailies, 3/30).
SIMONS