CHILE MEDIA REPORT - JULY 7

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000625 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 - JULY 7 Leading Story -------------- ¶1. The monthly Economic Activity Index, IMACEC, shows an economic contraction of 4.4% in May compared to the same period in 2008. Dailies also report there are 8,160 cases of AH1N1 in Chile, but only 22 deaths. A team of experts from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from Atlanta will arrive in Chile in the coming days to assess the handling of the epidemic. U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. Secretary Hillary Clinton distinguished Chilean sociologist Mariliana Morales with the "2009 Heroes in the Fight against Trafficking in Persons" award. Morales heads an NGO in Costa Rica that has turned into a worldwide model in the fight against sexual trade and trafficking in persons. The foundation works with government agencies and international labor organizations to set up scholarships to help victims complete their elementary and middle school education, learn a specific trade, and to provide them with legal assistance (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, Ya Magazine, 7/7). ¶3. The financial crisis and the murder of two Chilean students in Pensacola who were on the "Work and Travel" program have led to a drop in the number of students seeking jobs in the United States (El Mercurio, 7/3). Honduras -------------- ¶4. Honduran Ambassador Francisco Martinez said, "We believe we can manage without the OAS," thereby defending the transition government in his country. The Chilean Foreign Ministry was not happy with his remarks. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Alberto Van Klaveren reiterated Chile's position: "We will not have relations with the de facto government and are suspending those relations in the public arena." Van Klaveren said Martinez will be asked about his position and if he considers himself a Micheletti representative, his status as Ambassador will have to be reviewed and perhaps cancelled (El Mercurio, 7/7). ¶5. Micheletti will send a delegation of congressmen to Washington, hoping they can meet with U.S. congressmen. But diplomatic sources said it's unlikely that this will happen, at least officially, because any gesture could be interpreted as recognizing the de facto government. OAS countries have been instructed to limit bilateral relations to a minimum with Micheletti (La Tercera, conservative, independent, 7/7). ICC --- ¶6. Yesterday President Bachelet signed the law making Chile a party to the Treaty of Rome which establishes the International Criminal Court (ICC) (All dailies, 7/7). Other Local -------------- ¶7. National Prosecutor Sabas Chahuan has banned the 665 Public Ministry prosecutors and other officials from entering gaming casinos and from any form of gambling (La Tercera, 7/7). URBAN