Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO443
2009-05-08 17:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MAY 8
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #0443 1281759 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081759Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4920 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3965 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2417 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1484 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0898 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2090 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6173 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4395 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2359 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000443
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 - MAY 8
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000443
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 - MAY 8
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The Saieh family holding bought 20% of the Ripley department
store for an estimated US$170 million. The Saieh holding already
owns a supermarket chain (Unimark) and six malls. The Central Bank
lowered the interest rate to 1.25%.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Ambassador Simons said he and Minister Fernandez had talked "a
little about the Summit of the Americas... the very good
relationship established between Presidents Bachelet and Obama...
and the first 100 days of the Obama administration, which have been
very fruitful for relations between the United States and Latin
America." Simons also underscored the "excellent state" of the
bilateral relationship with Chile and the "good climate" for the
relationship between the United States and Latin America since the
arrival of Barack Obama at the White House (La Nacion, 5/8).
3. After a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Fernandez,
Ambassador Paul Simons was asked about Chile's acquisition of F16s
from Holland, given that the U.S. Congress must approve the sale of
all U.S. manufactured military material. "I don't have any
information about this, but I don't believe there is a reason to be
concerned," said Simons (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ.
33,000, 5/7; La Nacion, government-owned, editorially independent,
circ 4,200, 5/8).
4. PAS placement: Op-ed by Deputy Chief of Mission Carol Urban,
"Intellectual Property: Synonym of Innovation" (Diario Financiero,
business and financial daily, circ. 30,000, 5/8).
Chavez to Visit Chile
--------------
5. The Foreign Ministry announced that President Hugo Chavez is
expected to visit Chile June 14-15 (Las Ultimas Noticias,
leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000, 5/8).
Local Economy
--------------
6. Chile's foreign investment dropped 67% during the first quarter
of this year compared to the last quarter of 2008. The main reason
is the postponement of investment in retail projects, where the
priority is to ensure stability rather than open new stores (La
Nacion, 5/8).
7. Barrick Gold announced the beginning of the Pascua Lama project
in September. Pascua Lama will be the largest gold and silver mine
in the country. It's a Chile-Argentina project, the first of its
kind worldwide, and will require an initial investment of up to
US$43 billion. The project is expected to produce 750,000 ounces of
gold and 35 million of ounces of silver during the first five years
(La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 5/8).
Chile- Peru
--------------
8. Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said Chile's talks with
Holland to buy F16s are part of Chile's technological renewal,
rebutting his Peruvian counterpart's allusion to an arms race (El
Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ.
129,000, 5/8).
Corruption
--------------
9. The Investigation's Police (PDI) Money Asset Brigade confiscated
accounting documents and a computer owned by former Defense Minister
Patricio Rojas. This action is part of the bribery investigation
related to the Mirage airplane purchase from Belgium in the late
1990s (El Mercurio, 5/8).
Indigenous Affairs
--------------
10. The Prosecutor's Office in Concepcion requested Interpol issue
an international arrest warrant against Mapuche activist Hector
Llaitul for his participation in the armed attack again prosecutor
Mario Elgueta in October 2008 (La Tercera, 5/8).
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 - MAY 8
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The Saieh family holding bought 20% of the Ripley department
store for an estimated US$170 million. The Saieh holding already
owns a supermarket chain (Unimark) and six malls. The Central Bank
lowered the interest rate to 1.25%.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. Ambassador Simons said he and Minister Fernandez had talked "a
little about the Summit of the Americas... the very good
relationship established between Presidents Bachelet and Obama...
and the first 100 days of the Obama administration, which have been
very fruitful for relations between the United States and Latin
America." Simons also underscored the "excellent state" of the
bilateral relationship with Chile and the "good climate" for the
relationship between the United States and Latin America since the
arrival of Barack Obama at the White House (La Nacion, 5/8).
3. After a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Fernandez,
Ambassador Paul Simons was asked about Chile's acquisition of F16s
from Holland, given that the U.S. Congress must approve the sale of
all U.S. manufactured military material. "I don't have any
information about this, but I don't believe there is a reason to be
concerned," said Simons (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ.
33,000, 5/7; La Nacion, government-owned, editorially independent,
circ 4,200, 5/8).
4. PAS placement: Op-ed by Deputy Chief of Mission Carol Urban,
"Intellectual Property: Synonym of Innovation" (Diario Financiero,
business and financial daily, circ. 30,000, 5/8).
Chavez to Visit Chile
--------------
5. The Foreign Ministry announced that President Hugo Chavez is
expected to visit Chile June 14-15 (Las Ultimas Noticias,
leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000, 5/8).
Local Economy
--------------
6. Chile's foreign investment dropped 67% during the first quarter
of this year compared to the last quarter of 2008. The main reason
is the postponement of investment in retail projects, where the
priority is to ensure stability rather than open new stores (La
Nacion, 5/8).
7. Barrick Gold announced the beginning of the Pascua Lama project
in September. Pascua Lama will be the largest gold and silver mine
in the country. It's a Chile-Argentina project, the first of its
kind worldwide, and will require an initial investment of up to
US$43 billion. The project is expected to produce 750,000 ounces of
gold and 35 million of ounces of silver during the first five years
(La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 5/8).
Chile- Peru
--------------
8. Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said Chile's talks with
Holland to buy F16s are part of Chile's technological renewal,
rebutting his Peruvian counterpart's allusion to an arms race (El
Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ.
129,000, 5/8).
Corruption
--------------
9. The Investigation's Police (PDI) Money Asset Brigade confiscated
accounting documents and a computer owned by former Defense Minister
Patricio Rojas. This action is part of the bribery investigation
related to the Mirage airplane purchase from Belgium in the late
1990s (El Mercurio, 5/8).
Indigenous Affairs
--------------
10. The Prosecutor's Office in Concepcion requested Interpol issue
an international arrest warrant against Mapuche activist Hector
Llaitul for his participation in the armed attack again prosecutor
Mario Elgueta in October 2008 (La Tercera, 5/8).
SIMONS