CHAVEZ CRITICISM BOLSTERS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000347

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE CI
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CRITICISM BOLSTERS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VISIT


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Chileans united behind President Bachelet
following Hugo Chavez,s criticism of her invitation to Vice
President Joseph Biden to join the Progressive Governance
Leadership Summit. Chavez,s statements provoked wide-spread
public support across political parties for President
Bachelet and the visit of Vice President Biden, including the
approval of a unanimous resolution in the Chamber of
Deputies. Political leaders have been effusive in praise of
the Vice President,s visit and the successful completion of
the Summit, which has had the effect of bolstering Chilean
political unity and pride. Several political leaders
described to the Ambassador how fruitful the visit was and
how appreciative they were that Vice President Biden chose
Chile for the Obama White House's first visit to Latin
America. End Summary.

Congress Formally Blasts Hugo Chavez
--------------

2. (U) The Chilean Chamber of Deputies on April 3
unanimously condemned the statements of Venezuelan leader
Hugo Chavez criticizing President Bachelet,s inclusion of
U.S. Vice President Biden and British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown in the Progressive Governance Leadership Summit in late
March. The resolution condemned Chavez,s statements and
reminded him to respect the rights of states to conduct their
own affairs autonomously. The resolution also praised
President Bachelet for the success of the Summit held in Vina
del Mar.


3. (U) Several political party leaders expressed support for
the inclusion of Vice President Biden at the Progressive
Governance Summit and criticized Chavez for his direct jabs
at President Bachelet. Radical Senator Jose Antonio Gomez
noted that every leader invited to the Summit was important
despite their political views. Christian Democrat Renan
Fuentealba called Hugo Chavez,s remarks inappropriate, and
Eduardo Saffirio, also of the DC, voiced a wide-spread belief
that Chavez,s criticism were just populist statements of a
politician whose views were far removed from those of
democrats. RN leader Sergio Romero stated that Chavez,s
comments were those of a totalitarian and were shameful to
Latin America.

Euphoric Response to Vice President
--------------

4. (U) In recent conversations with the Ambassador, several
political leaders expressed appreciation for Vice President
Biden's visit to Chile -) the first Obama White House
visitor to Latin America. Representative Eugenio Bauer, from
the opposition UDI party, said Chavez,s comments helped
build a sense of unity among all political factions in
support of the Vice President,s visit and against Chavez.
Bauer, like Foreign Ministry Policy Director Juan Pablo Lira,
described the Vice President,s visit as extremely positive
and successful in moving forward the bilateral relationship.


5. (U) During the state dinner, Senate President Jovino
Novoa (UDI),Chamber of Deputies President Rodrigo Alvarez
(UDI),and Central Bank President Jose de Gregorio sat at the
head table with Vice President Biden and President Bachelet.
Afterwards, each separately told the Ambassador how
productive the exchange was with the Vice President, in
addition to being enjoyable in that special setting. The
Central Bank President welcomed the long and open exchange,
which he describes as &fantastic,8 with Vice President
Biden about the economic recovery process in the United
States.


6. (U) The positive sentiments were echoed by Carolina Toha,
the new GOC spokesperson, who commented to the Ambassador on
April 13 that the Vice President,s several informal
conversations among the leaders at the Summit were frank and
honest, and helped build ties among the leaders present.
Presidential Advisor Marcos Robledo said the visit was
helpful to President Bachelet, bolstering her image as a
leader. Toha noted that the government team, including
President Bachelet, felt particularly proud at its management
of the Summit and the U.S. bilateral event.


7. (U) AmCham representative Kathleen Barclay, who also
attended the state dinner, was effusive in her comments on
how important the visit was for bolstering U.S.-Chilean
relations as well as helping boost Chile,s leadership in
South America. She described President Bachelet as
positively glowing, and added there was a clear chemistry
between the President and Vice President Biden.


Comment: Landmark Visit
--------------

8. (SBU) Chavez,s commentary about the Summit participants
had the fortuitous effect of highlighting Chile's strong ties
with the United States and the disdain with which Chavez is
held in Chile. The Alianza opposition and the ruling
Concertacion rarely agree, but both consider the Vice
President's visit a landmark event in the bilateral
relationship, one on which the Chileans are eager to build.
SIMONS