CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- JUNE 8

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000537 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 -- JUNE 8 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. A 56-year old man died from AH1N1, marking Chile's second casualty. He suffered from an array of heart and respiratory conditions due to his obesity. Chile now leads South America for AH1N1-related deaths. U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. Interview with Deputy Assistant Secretary Walter Bastian: "The FTA with Chile is the most successful of the United States." "The Obama administration has made it clear that this is not the time for protectionism, but rather a time to promote foreign trade," said Bastian, who was in Chile leading a business delegation. "We are working on several fronts ... trying to get the ratification of the free trade agreements with Colombian and Panama. In order to achieve this, it is crucial that we are able to show that our agreement with Chile has been successful for Chileans and North Americans. It seems to me that of all the agreements we have, the most successful thus far is Chile's" (Diario Financiero, business and financial, circ. 30,000, 6/8). Obama Speech in Cairo -------------- ¶3. International commentator Libardo Buitrago's column entitled, "Obama -- The Enthusiasm for Peace": "President Obama's foreign policy rests on two pillars: Dialogue and negotiations. And in his visit to the Middle East, he put these into practice.... He spoke directly to Arabs and Muslims of a new relationship based on trust... and talked about a new beginning in relations between the two worlds.... If Obama earns the trust of the Muslim world his task of confronting radical groups will become much easier, and in this regard the White House's new diplomacy has a lot to gain.... One of Obama's goals is to contribute to the resolution of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.... He left a conciliatory and direct message.... Obama has no formula on where the solution lies... and expects Arabs and Israelis themselves to converge and reach their own conclusion to create the two states" (Diario Financiero, 6/8). ¶4. Weekly round-up column, "The United States and Islam: A New Beginning?" Obama knows that his government has a chance to change the situation in the Middle East.... His own life experience... puts him closer to Islamic audiences than any other president. His public commitment not to abandon Israel, his closest regional ally, puts him in a position of authority to criticize Palestinians and Israelis alike.... In Egypt he delivered the speech he had promised during his campaign.... Obama wanted to clearly show that he is not George W. Bush and that his foreign policy made a 180 degree turn. He also played an important card, of looking at the Muslim world straight in the face ... to offer a new beginning in relations.... He spoke about religion, tolerance... and democracy, stemming from the roots of Islam rather than from the western world. His goal seems very ambitious. We will now have to wait and see what he can achieve in the next months" (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 6/8). ¶5. Public opinion still idolizes him, but the time has come for President Obama to begin fulfilling his main campaign promise and not just those he has been forced to fulfill because of the crisis (El Mercurio, 6/7). OAS-Cuba -------------- ¶6. Human Rights Watch Director for the Americas, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said the clause in the OAS resolution that forces Cuba to promote democracy and defend human rights before rejoining the organization was the only element that stopped the resolution from turning into a "catastrophe." He said that the clause was the only obstacle to legitimatizing other totalitarian governments in the region (El Mercurio, 6/7). ¶7. Interview with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza: "Now the ball is on the bilateral field, which is Cuba and the United States.... If you ask me if it (the United States) changed its position, the answer is yes. But I see that as a merit and not as a defeat, because President Obama had said that he wants to listen to Latin America and Secretary Clinton did (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 6/6). ¶8. Interview with Jose Miguel Insulza: "I promoted (eliminating the 1962 resolution) because I thought it necessary for the OAS.... Democracy develops best with inclusion rather that exclusion.... I believe that to have a dialogue with Cuba, the OAS had to unilaterally eliminate the 1962 resolution. The idea caught on fast, especially with President Obama, who said he wants to listen to Latin America.... Revoking the 1962 resolution was symbolic in nature, because the organization was a tool of the Cold War" (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 6/5). ¶9. Letter to the editor by PRSD Congressman Carlos Jarpa: "Barack Obama has implemented an important foreign policy change, especially with regard to Latin America. This shows an effort to adapt to what 21st diplomacy should be, where respect, dialogue, and equality should be the fundamental characteristics. Let's hope that Cuba realizes the extent of these efforts and rejoins the OAS, as a first step to overcome the embargo (La Tercera, 6/8). IPR -------------- ¶10. The Santiago Appeals Courts ruled against a well-known plastic surgeon for using pirated software in his clinic. The court's resolution has encouraged the software industry to begin suing an array of companies for use of pirated software, and to start monitoring more closely distributors of software material, including department stores (El Mercurio, 6/8). Peru-Bolivia -------------- ¶11. Journalist Ascanio Cavallo notes that Peru's claim over maritime borders with Chile at The Hague has caused Lima problems with three of its five neighbors, including Bolivia. And though Peru might not lose anything in territorial terms, the tension caused between Lima and La Paz could have serious consequences after Alan Garcia leaves office (La Tercera, 6/7). Nuclear Energy -------------- ¶12. The mining sector has begun lobbying the government to development nuclear plants. The sector has already approached presidential candidates Sebastian Pinera and Eduardo Frei, who in general terms are in favor of this form of energy generation. The main reason for the lobby is the high cost of electricity, which mining companies say is the highest in Latin America. Most mining companies are located in northern Chile where water is scarce, hence the urgency to have alternative energy sources. One such alternative are desalinization plants, but these also operate on electricity (Tercera, 6/7). Indigenous affairs -------------- ¶13. The GOC is working on a draft project known as the Indigenous Code. Its implementation would make Chile the first of those who have signed the 169 Convention and established a certification to invest in indigenous territories (El Mercurio, 6/7). Narcotics -------------- ¶14. The records kept by the Comptrollers' Office show that in December 2008, 5,333 attorneys were working on narcotics-related cases defending traffickers; in 2007 there were only 1,409. The attorneys on that list are banned from holding public office (La Segunda, 6/5). SIMONS