CHILE MEDIA REPORT - APRIL 1

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000306 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 - APRIL 1 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. The national unemployment rate for the December-February period reached 8.5 percent, which is 1.2 percent higher than in 2008. Chile plays Uruguay this evening and could qualify for the 2010 World Soccer Cup if it wins. U.S.-Related Articles -------------- ¶2. Minister Counselor Carol Urban met in Iquique with acting Mayor Maria Angelica Vega, councilpersons Francisco Prieto and Renzo Trisotti, and the Secretary General of the Municipal Social Development Corporation, Rosa Campilla, to discuss the U.S. Embassy-sponsored project to create awareness in school children about the importance of IPR through the creation of music. Children of three schools will attend workshops to learn how to use an array of tools to create and produce music and talk about the importance of protecting their own work. Urban highlighted the importance that children understand IPR not only protects their work, but also furthers innovation production (Regional La Estrella de Iquique, 3/30- 4/1; Diario 21 on-line, 4/1). ¶3. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said the United States is concerned over the "weakening" of intellectual property rights in Chile (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 4/1). ¶4. Chile will start exporting grapefruit and oranges to the United States as of next season (Diario Financiero, business and financial, circ. 30,000, 4/1). ¶5. Several college students who visited the United States with the World and Travel program criticized the sponsoring agencies for failing to provide jobs and housing. The agencies, however, claim there were only a few problems and that these were resolved in a timely and adequate manner. The students, however, fully disagree (El Mostrador on-line news, 4/1). ¶6. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delegation is in Chile inspecting farmed salmon facilities. This is the second FDA visit in less than a year for the troubled local salmon industry, which after years of growth is expected to contract significantly (The Santiago Times, English on-line daily, 4/1). ¶7. "The demand set forth by the U.S government for the automobile industry to reorganize itself represents a major change and Obama's most ambitious goal to reorganize the economy.... There are clear signs that President Obama is a good strategist and that his audacious and concrete plans will enable the United States to come out of the crisis and improve the health of the global economy (Estrategia, business and financial (circ. 30,000, 4/1). Narcotics Ring -------------- ¶8. A narcotics organization known as "Daniel Aldana" has been using Chile as a transit point to smuggle drugs to Europe and Asia. The difference with other criminal organizations, however, is that Aldana stems from Colombia's rebels and is a known as an active supporter of the FARC. The Carabineros OS-7 police first came across the organization in 2006 when it confiscated 400 kilos of cocaine in operation "Pilar del Norte." Reportedly Aldana only operates with shipments of more than 200 kilos. The cargo is under the permanent custody of individuals who contact the networks already in place in Chile. They then launder the shipments and ensure the narcotics reach their final destination (El Mercurio, 4/1). Bachelet and Chavez -------------- ¶9. In Qatar, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized Bachelet for meeting with Vice President Biden and British Prime Minister Brown at the Progressive Governance Conference. "It does not help the unity of South American countries for the Chilean President to convoke a meeting with the Vice President of the United States and the British Prime Ministers, who represent the empires," said Chavez. Chilean government spokesperson Carolina Toha labeled Chavez' remarks "inappropriate," adding that Bachelet "is a symbol of unity and dialogue worldwide" (La Tercera, El Mercurio, 4/1). ¶10. The Chairman of the Chamber's Foreign Relations Committee Renan Fuentealba (DC) noted that Chavez "has no relationship whatsoever to global leaders" and is "envious" because he was not invited to the summit. Socialist Party Marcelo Diaz said, "the only one that threatens South American's unity is Chavez himself, with his proclivity to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries" (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 3/31). Poll: Frei Reduces Pinera Lead -------------- ¶11. A TNS-Time telephone poll shows that in an eventual presidential election, Sebastian Pinera has 37% support, and Eduardo Frei 31%. In a runoff election, Pinera would get 41% and Frei 39%, which is 4 points more than the previous poll (La Tercera, 4/1). SIMONS