Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO55
2009-01-16 16:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - JANUARY 14
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000055
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 - JANUARY 14
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000055
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 - JANUARY 14
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Chilean dailies highlighted the 41% drop in car sales in Chile
last December; the participation of the Chairman of Chile's
Production and Trade Confederation in the official delegation to
Cuba; and the accidents and suspension of the last leg of the Dakar
automobile Rally in Chile due to weather conditions.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation released the
2009 Index of Economic Freedom, ranking Chile's eleventh among 183
economies. Chile dropped three places since last year and was
displaced from the top ten listing. The annual report -- which used
a different methodology to assess labor policies -- criticized Chile
in the business freedom category for the burdensome and lengthy
procedures to close a business (All dailies, 1/14).
Local
--------------
3. The Executive Branch withdrew the urgency on a draft bill aimed
at reforming the Chilean electoral system. The legislation, which
was scheduled to be voted today in the Chamber of Deputies, would
have registered all eligible citizens automatically and made voting
voluntarily. An unexpected rejection by deputies in the government
coalition prompted the government to postpone the initiative (El
Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ.
129,000, 1/14).
4. The Government of Chile is preparing a new set of rules aimed at
increasing regulations over gas, coal, thermal and diesel emissions
in the country. The initiative seeks to reduce atmospheric
pollution to the lowest level possible. The legislation would
require higher standards on new plants and would set a two to
four-year adjustment period on old facilities. Last week, the
Ministry of Energy submitted a report warning the Executive Branch
over the dangers of upholding the current growth of coal centrals in
Chile, which would quadruple Chile's carbon dioxide emissions by the
year 2030. Experts forecast an increase in operational costs of
power production in the country (El Mercurio, 1/14).
Chile-Cuba
--------------
5. Businessman Rafael Guilisasti, Chairman of Chile's Production
and Trade Confederation (CPC) will head the business delegation that
will travel with President Michelle Bachelet to Cuba in February.
The trade mission is scheduled to participate in an economic seminar
with Cuban counterparts on February 12. Sources in the government
have stated that the inclusion of Mr. Guilisasti is a clear signal
of the President's emphasis on trade during this trip [Note: Mr.
Guilisasti is Chairman of the Board of Santiago's Binational Center]
(La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 1/14).
6. The Christian Democratic (DC) Party's Council was clearly annoyed
after becoming aware that one of its members, Deputy Jose Miguel
Ortiz, had been invited to join President Bachelet's official
delegation to Cuba. The DC declined to participate in the trip
after the Government ruled out meetings with Cuban dissidents. DC
President Juan Carlos Latorre criticized the Government of Chile by
noting, "We do not agree (with the fact that the Government) is
putting pressure or interfering with our party's decisions" (La
Tercera, 1/14).
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 - JANUARY 14
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Chilean dailies highlighted the 41% drop in car sales in Chile
last December; the participation of the Chairman of Chile's
Production and Trade Confederation in the official delegation to
Cuba; and the accidents and suspension of the last leg of the Dakar
automobile Rally in Chile due to weather conditions.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation released the
2009 Index of Economic Freedom, ranking Chile's eleventh among 183
economies. Chile dropped three places since last year and was
displaced from the top ten listing. The annual report -- which used
a different methodology to assess labor policies -- criticized Chile
in the business freedom category for the burdensome and lengthy
procedures to close a business (All dailies, 1/14).
Local
--------------
3. The Executive Branch withdrew the urgency on a draft bill aimed
at reforming the Chilean electoral system. The legislation, which
was scheduled to be voted today in the Chamber of Deputies, would
have registered all eligible citizens automatically and made voting
voluntarily. An unexpected rejection by deputies in the government
coalition prompted the government to postpone the initiative (El
Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ.
129,000, 1/14).
4. The Government of Chile is preparing a new set of rules aimed at
increasing regulations over gas, coal, thermal and diesel emissions
in the country. The initiative seeks to reduce atmospheric
pollution to the lowest level possible. The legislation would
require higher standards on new plants and would set a two to
four-year adjustment period on old facilities. Last week, the
Ministry of Energy submitted a report warning the Executive Branch
over the dangers of upholding the current growth of coal centrals in
Chile, which would quadruple Chile's carbon dioxide emissions by the
year 2030. Experts forecast an increase in operational costs of
power production in the country (El Mercurio, 1/14).
Chile-Cuba
--------------
5. Businessman Rafael Guilisasti, Chairman of Chile's Production
and Trade Confederation (CPC) will head the business delegation that
will travel with President Michelle Bachelet to Cuba in February.
The trade mission is scheduled to participate in an economic seminar
with Cuban counterparts on February 12. Sources in the government
have stated that the inclusion of Mr. Guilisasti is a clear signal
of the President's emphasis on trade during this trip [Note: Mr.
Guilisasti is Chairman of the Board of Santiago's Binational Center]
(La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 1/14).
6. The Christian Democratic (DC) Party's Council was clearly annoyed
after becoming aware that one of its members, Deputy Jose Miguel
Ortiz, had been invited to join President Bachelet's official
delegation to Cuba. The DC declined to participate in the trip
after the Government ruled out meetings with Cuban dissidents. DC
President Juan Carlos Latorre criticized the Government of Chile by
noting, "We do not agree (with the fact that the Government) is
putting pressure or interfering with our party's decisions" (La
Tercera, 1/14).
SIMONS