Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO537
2009-06-08 20:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- JUNE 8

Tags:  KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI 
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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
----------------
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