CHILE MEDIA REPORT - APRIL 17

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000364 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 17 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. FASA pharmacy chain announced it would compensate consumers who bought any of the 220 products listed in the collusion suit. U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. La Moneda views President Obama's meeting with UNASUR tomorrow as a validation of the bloc. However, it is concerned with the possibility that member nations Venezuela and Bolivia make counter-productive statements against Obama at the Summit. (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 4/17). ¶3. President Hugo Chavez criticized OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza for promoting Cuba's reentry to the hemispheric organization. "Dr. Insulza is taking the stance of the empire (the United States,)," said Chavez (La Tercera, conservative, independent (circ. 101,000, 4/17). ¶4. Editorial entitled, "The United States and Latin America at the Summit of the Americas": "There is no doubt that the lifting of restrictions for Cuban-Americans to travel and send remittances to Cuba will be one of the central topics at the summit.... The question is how to motivate Cuba into making concessions that translate into more freedom for its people. Obama has taken the first step and now must wait and see the reaction of the Castro regime... before testing other strategies.... It is crucial for the region to find ways to move forward and cooperate with the United States. The style of the new U.S. President and his openness to dialogue have paved the way to progress in international trade (where he has unfortunately given signs of protectionism), security, energy, among other issues that will be discussed in depth at the Summit" (La Tercera, 4/17). ¶5. Andres Oppenheimer column: "The real test is whether Obama will pay more attention to Latin America after the Summit.... Hopefully in the next few days he will provide us... with clear indications that he will continue to be involved with the region after returning to Washington" (El Mercurio, 4/17). ¶6. David Bilbao, one of the Chilean students injured in the Pensacola shooting, returned to his hometown yesterday (El Mercurio, 4/17). ¶7. Robert McKee, considered a scriptwriting "guru" in Hollywood, will give a conference at "Teatro Oriente" on April 25 and 26 (La Tercera, 4/17). SIMONS