CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- MAY 28

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000498 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 28 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. Health Authorities have confirmed 168 cases of AH1N1 nationwide and has moved to a new strategy. The disease is showing a very fast pace of contagion and except for two cases, mild symptoms. Dailies also report that former UDI presidential candidate Joaquin Lavin traveled to Caracas to attend a forum on democracy. At the airport, an agent explicitly warned him that he was prohibited from criticizing President Chavez or the Venezuelan government. U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. The OAS failed yesterday in its effort to eliminate the resolution that excluded Cuba from the organization. Washington's stance is that until Cuba complies with the "principles and values" of the Inter-American democratic system it cannot be readmitted. Argentine Gabriel Salvia, President of the Center for Openness and Development of Latin America, said the most significant obstacle for Cuba to rejoin the OAS is that its legal system contradicts the Inter-American Democratic Charter (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 5/28). ¶3. At least 15 Latin American and Caribbean OAS member nations yesterday expressed support for eliminating the resolution that expelled Cuba from the OAS in 1962. Like Chile, those countries said the organization's policy should be "inclusive," regardless of a country's political regime. The United States said yesterday that Cuba's reentry to the OAS depends on whether it "fully respects human rights and fundamental freedoms." With regard to Chile's position, the United States said it "supports the interest" expressed. Everything indicates that in the June OAS General Assembly, Chile will stand by its position to eliminate any resolution that prevents the participation of any nation in the OAS (La Nacion, government-owned, editorially independent, circ .4,200, 5/28). ¶4. The United States submitted a proposal to the OAS Permanent Council to begin talks with Cuba for the latter's reentry into the OAS (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 5/28). ¶5. Editorial: "North Korea's Nuclear Threat" "The international community must try a new approach.... North Korea must understand that blackmail is not acceptable as a diplomatic tool.... The international community has an array of alternatives with which to confront Pyongyang.... What must not happen again is to ... legitimize North Korea's use of nuclear power to intimidate its neighbors by granting concessions" (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 5/28). Foreign Investment in Chile -------------- ¶6. An Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report shows that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Chile for 2008 totaled US$16.8 million, 16% higher than in 2008. This makes Chile the second largest recipient of FDI in South America after Brazil (Diario Financiero, business and financial, circ. 30,000, 5/28). Chile-Peru -------------- ¶7. Peruvian Defense Minister Antero Flores-Araoz criticized President Bachelet for visiting the International Court of Justice headquarters in The Hague. Bachelet attended a lunch with court officials, including the officer reviewing Peru's maritime border claim against Chile, Hisashi Obawa. Flores-Araz said Peru "respects forms and refrains from doing things that awaken suspicion" (La Tercera, 5/28). Terrorism -------------- ¶8. The Investigations Police (PDI) arrested 31-year old Cristian Cancino, believed to supply anarchist "Okupa" groups with explosives. Cancino was arrested during the investigation of the death of anarchist Mauricio Morales, who died when the bomb he was carrying detonated (All dailies, 5/28). Cultural -------------- ¶9. CityDance, listed by Dance Magazine as one of the top 25 shows one must see, will perform in Penalolen and the Municipal Theater on June 2 (La Tercera, 5/28). SIMONS