CHILE GIVES THUMBS UP TO OBAMA'S SUMMIT MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000435

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: PREL XM XL XS CI
SUBJECT: CHILE GIVES THUMBS UP TO OBAMA'S SUMMIT MEETING
WITH UNASUR LEADERS

Classified By: Political Officer Jennifer Spande for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) Summary: Top MFA officials described the Summit of
the Americas as a success notable for its positive atmosphere
and frank exchange of views, and were relieved that their
fears of possible outbursts by Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, or
others never came to pass. Even these polemical presidents
were on good behavior during President Obama's meeting with
UNASUR heads of state. While nearly all speakers at the
UNASUR meeting raised U.S. policy towards Cuba, and Chavez
and Morales criticized the U.S., everyone interacted
respectfully and seemed pleased to have the opportunity to
meet with President Obama. President Bachelet's
conversations with President Obama over dinner and with two
Codels were also quite positive, leading Flisfisch to assess
that, in general, Chile's relations with both the U.S.
executive branch and the legislature are "very, very
positive." End Summary.


2. (U) Charge Urban, accompanied by E/Pol Chief and Poloff,
met April 29 with Ambassador Angel Flisfisch, Director of the
MFA's Planning Division, to get Flisfisch's readout on the
Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad and Tobago April
17-19. Flisfisch was accompanied by MFA North American
Affairs Director Isauro Torres; Patricio Powell, the Chief of
OAS/Hemispheric Affairs; and Patricio Rojas, the Chief of
Staff for MFA Foreign Policy Director General Juan Pablo
Lira. Flisfisch attended President Obama's meeting with
UNASUR nations and Torres and Powell attended portions of the
plenary sessions.

Summit a Success
--------------


3. (C) Flisfisch summarized his assessment by saying that
the Summit was a success, with the most critical achievements
being the simple fact of gathering the hemisphere's leaders
together; the positive atmosphere that pervaded the Summit;
and the frankness with which leaders spoke. In the end, the
failure to reach consensus over a summit declaration did not
matter, he said, noting that biofuels was the main point of
contention. In an apparent reference to hopes for dramatic
changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba, Flisfisch noted that all
the heads of state present had a sophisticated political
understanding of U.S. domestic constraints, recognizing that
the pending issues are "very complicated" and "it takes two
to tango." However, there will be a vigorous push to get
Cuba admitted to the OAS in time for the next general
assembly, he warned.

UNASUR Meeting with President Obama
--------------


4. (SBU) Flisfisch reported that, overall, the UNASUR
meeting with President Obama had gone quite well, with fears
about the behavior of some of the region's more polemic
personalities unrealized. President Bachelet opened the
session with a short speech describing UNASUR's structure,
including the defense, health, and energy councils; and
explaining that the organization, which represents a diverse
group of governments and countries, seeks to respect each
others' perspectives and find common ground. She signaled
that reducing tension in Bolivia following the Pando killings
was one of the group's key achievements during its first
year. President Obama followed President Bachelet, with
remarks echoing the themes of hope and moving forward that
had been the hallmarks of his speech to the plenary session.
His remarks were "exactly what everyone wanted to hear,"
Flisfisch commented.


5. (C) Flisfisch summarized key leaders' remarks as follows:

--Bolivian President Evo Morales, the first UNASUR head of
state to speak, talked about the alleged role of recently
expelled DEA agents and Ambassador Goldberg in Bolivia.
Morales was respectful and civilized -- but still frank -- in
his delivery and other interactions during the session.
Other than the DEA reference, he did not make many direct
references to the U.S., but did say that each of Obama's
statements about the region was helping to build better
relations.

--Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez alleged U.S. involvement
in the 2002 attempted coup against him, and highlighted a
history of failed U.S. policies towards Cuba. "History is
history, you can't deny it," Chavez told the group. Chavez
welcomed President Obama's positive and different approach,
but warned against the actions of lower-level U.S. officials.

--Colombian President Alvaro Uribe delivered what Flisfisch

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described as a "very conventional" speech, emphasizing his
concern about narcotrafficking and signaling his commitment
to partnership with the U.S.

--President Rafael Correa of Ecuador echoed many of Chavez's
remarks, including the need to own up to difficult historical
moments, but added that he was very happy that Obama had
traveled to the region to meet with Latin American leaders.

--Brazilian President Lula da Silva's short statement focused
on his belief that a president can make a real difference in
shaping his country's foreign policy ("It's not just Pepsi
vs. Coke") and how the world perceives his country. It was
"refreshing" to have Obama as the new U.S. president, and
should open up new opportunities to build relationships. On
the other hand, four years is not a very long time, and Obama
will have to move quickly to have an impact. Flisfisch
described Lula's presentation as similar to a professor
before his pupils.

--President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina
synthesized others' remarks, agreeing that presidents can
make a difference, such as President Carter did during
Argentina's transition to democracy.


6. (C) Flisfisch also noted that nearly all the leaders
mentioned Cuba in their speeches. He said that leaders'
expectations of possible changes to U.S. policy towards Cuba
had shifted substantially in the weeks leading up to the
election. Heads of state had adopted a more pragmatic
outlook, and recognized the domestic political resonance of
Cuba policy in the U.S. The topic was discussed by
Chavez-oriented leaders at the Bolivarian Alternative for the
Americas (ALBA) Summit held in advance of the Summit of the
Americas. Obama's announced changes to Cuba policy were
well-received at the Summit of the Americas, although the
leaders had still hoped for more dramatic changes, including
an end to the embargo and the inclusion of Cuba in the OAS.

Getting Along Famously: Bachelet and Obama at Dinner,
Bachelet with Codels
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Presidents Obama and Bachelet were seated next to
each other at dinner, and the two had an extended and cordial
conversation, Flishfisch reported. They talked at length
about Chavez and expressed relief that he hadn't generated
friction during the meetings. Obama praised Chile for its
clear ability to "dialogue with the whole world" (in
Flisfisch's words). Bachelet spoke of the vision that Chile
and the U.S. share and her confidence in Obama's leadership.


8. (SBU) President Bachelet had very positive meetings with
both Codel Engel and Codel Baucus, Flisfisch offered.
Representative Engel expressed his admiration for Bachelet
and said that he had told his congressional colleagues about
Chile's unique partnership with California and its ambitious
program to provide scholarships for overseas study. With
Codel Baucus, the Chilean president discussed the success of
the Summit, peacekeeping cooperation in Haiti, and the
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Bachelet and
Senator Baucus had "good chemistry," Flisfisch noted.


9. (C) Meanwhile, Secretary Clinton and Chilean Foreign
Minister Fernandez spoke at length during the summit,
establishing what Flisfisch described as "good personal
relations" and discussing a potential Bachelet trip to the
U.S. Bachelet is likely to seek meetings with members of
Congress and the National Security Council during her
proposed trip to Washington. Flisfisch also revealed that
Bachelet's conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper focused on their positive assessments of President
Obama. Flisfisch summarized the bilateral relationship
post-Summit by saying that all of Chile's relations with the
U.S. -- both with members of Congress and with the Executive
Branch -- are "very, very positive."

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Flisfisch was obviously pleased -- and relieved --
that the Summit had been so successful and that Chavez and
other potential loose cannons had been on good behavior.
Bachelet and many other leaders in the region strongly favor
enhanced U.S. and multilateral relations with Cuba. Given
this, it is noteworthy that Chile and other countries were so
pleased with the Summit despite their perception that the
recent changes in U.S. policy toward the island are limited
in scope. Their satisfaction likely stems from their overall
very positive assessment of President Obama, their
understanding that Cuba is a highly complex political issue

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in the U.S., and their knowledge that any major change in
Cuba policy would need congressional approval.
SIMONS