COUNTRY REVIEW FOR LIBERTAD ACT -- CHILE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000480 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ETCC PREL CU CI SUBJECT: COUNTRY REVIEW FOR LIBERTAD ACT -- CHILE REF: A. STATE 48487 B. SANTIAGO 44 C. SANTIAGO 45 ¶D. SANTIAGO 157 E. SANTIAGO 228 ¶1. (U) Post provides the following information in response to Ref A request. Responses are keyed to the specific questions identified in Ref A. Refs B-E are Post's reporting covering the preceding six-month period. Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Cuba played a prominent role in Chilean foreign policy and public debate over the last six months, sparked by President Bachelet's February visit to Cuba and the UN Universal Periodic Review. The Chilean government views President Bachelet's Cuba trip as promoting Cuba's opening to the world and promoting the gradual advancement of democracy and human rights. Some Chilean officials who were critical of the president's trip made public statements calling for quicker progress toward safeguarding human rights on the island. High Level Diplomatic Visits -------------- ¶3. (SBU) President Bachelet visited Cuba from February 11 to 13, ¶2009. This was the first official travel to Cuba by a Chilean President since Salvador Allende visited in 1973. Her delegation included politicians, business leaders, and cultural representatives. During the trip, President Bachelet participated in an economic seminar with members of the Chilean and Cuban business sectors, and attended the opening ceremony for the Havana Book Festival (Ref B). She also had private meetings with both Raul and Fidel Castro. ¶4. (SBU) During the visit, Chile signed eight accords with Cuba -- cooperation agreements on science and technology, neurological restoration, genetic engineering and biotechnology, international cooperation programs, forestry, cinema, sports, and national monuments. Economic stimulation through increased trade and investment was also a prevalent theme (see paragraphs 9-11). ¶5. (SBU) President Bachelet characterized the trip as a success, citing the importance of Latin American integration. However, Christian Democrats and Alianza members saw the visit, and particularly Fidel Castro's subsequent hostile public remarks, as an embarrassing policy setback for Chile (Ref D). Bachelet faced criticism for her decision not to meet with Cuban dissidents, while state officials explained that such meetings would be inappropriate on an official visit (Ref B). The President noted she raised all the important issues (i.e., human rights). Statements and Government Actions -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Parliamentarian Patricio Walker of the Christian Democratic Party spearheaded the movement to pass an official Congressional statement on Cuban governmental policy. The statement, which passed on January 7, 2009, called on Cuba to free its political prisoners and to hold open elections. ¶7. (SBU) Ambassador Carlos Portales, Chile's permanent representative to the United Nations, spoke at the UN's Universal Periodic Review of Cuba in February 2009. In a speech that was well-received by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, Portales encouraged Cuba to promote judicial independence and protect political dissidents. He also urged the Cuban government to loosen restrictions on freedom of expression and movement (Ref E). ¶8. (SBU) After his meeting with President Bachelet's, Fidel Castro wrote an article condemning Chile's seizure of Bolivia's access to the sea. This began a war of words. Senators from Chilean right-wing political party UDI called Fidel Castro a brutal dictator, and compared him to Hitler and Stalin. Juan Carlos Latorre, President of the centrist Christian Democrats, publicly denounced Cuba's human rights record. The Bachelet administration stated its displeasure with Castro's statements, noting they reflected the views of a former leader. Bilateral Trade Agreements -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In March 2008, Chile signed a trade agreement with Cuba. The Chilean government reported $80 million in bilateral trade in 2008, with Cuban exports making up a paltry $5 million of that figure. Cuban rum accounts for nearly all the exports to Chile. In a speaking engagement during her visit to Cuba, Bachelet noted that the island has much more to offer than rum, and encouraged the diversification of exports. ¶10. (SBU) One of the accords signed while President Bachelet was in Cuba included a promise by both countries to promote long-term export strategies. This agreement was signed by ProChile, which is Chile's Department of Export Promotion, and Cuba's Center for External Trade Promotion. The goal is to increase economic integration through trade missions, professional collaboration, and information exchange. Nature of Economic Investments -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Chileans invest $40 million annually in Cuban industries such as tourism, construction, food, air transport, energy, and printing, according to the Chilean government. However, the President sees increased investment as an important step for both countries. Bachelet called on Chilean and Cuban entrepreneurs to seek out new investment possibilities -- in areas like the mining and food industries -- as a way to combat the recession. Exchange Programs -------------- ¶12. (SBU) There are currently more than 400 university students from Chile studying in Cuba. This number is up from previous years. The Cuban government offers a limited number of scholarships to Chilean medical students studying in Cuba. SIMONS