CHILE MEDIA REPORT - JUNE 18

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000570 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 18 Leading Stories -------------- ¶1. Front-page headlines: Chile's Investigative Police discharged two high-ranking officials for their involvement in a prostitution ring; the Chamber of Deputies is considering the dismissal of a legislator accused of mishandling funds assigned for office-space rental; President Obama launched the largest reform to the U.S. financial system since the Great Depression. Chile- Venezuela -------------- ¶2. The Chamber of Deputies agreed to request the Chilean Government to voice its concern over the political situation in Venezuela. The document notes that the Lower Chamber "agrees to request the Government of Chile to present its concern with Venezuela and the Organization of American States (OAS) over the grave deterioration of democracy and human rights." The text also calls on the international community and the OAS to adopt measures required for "restoring in Venezuela the rights that are currently violated." This is the second text on which the Lower House has voted this month regarding the Venezuelan president. On June 3, legislators requested Chile's Foreign Ministry to take action over the situation affecting Chilean companies in Venezuela. (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 6/18) Chile -ICC -------------- ¶3. The Chamber of Deputies approved by a vote of 79 to nine a resolution stating that Chile endorses the International Criminal Court (ICC). With this approval, the Government of Chile is now in the position to enact the legislation required for Chile's incorporation into the Rome Statute. (La Tercera, 6/18) Chile-Local Politics -------------- ¶4. Christian Democrat Senator Eduardo Frei officially launched his campaign as the presidential candidate of the Government Coalition for the upcoming elections. In a crowded Santiago event held last night, several members of the Cabinet and former Presidents Patricio Aylwin and Ricardo Lagos gave Senator Frei their support. (All dailies, 6/18) Chile-AH1N1 Influenza -------------- ¶5. A 40-year-old Chilean male is the third fatal victim of AH1N1 Influenza in Chile. The man had been transferred to Santiago from Puerto Montt, the same region from which the other two victims contracted flu. Unlike the two other cases, this individual was not considered a high-risk patient. (La Tercera, 9/18) SIMONS