Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO639
2009-07-09 20:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - JULY 9
how-toVZCZCXYZ0028 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #0639/01 1902043 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 092043Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5187 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 4062 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2475 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1576 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0994 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2162 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6274 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4480 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2479 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000639
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 9
Leading Story
-------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000639
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 9
Leading Story
--------------
1. The Health Ministry has instructed public hospitals to postpone
5,000 surgeries so that the respective physicians and resources can
be used to treat the high number of patients with respiratory
emergencies related to the outbreak of AH1N1.
Chile-U.S. Military Sales
--------------
2. The Chilean Government downplayed the U.S. reaction to Chile's
decision to buy Russian helicopters. Spokesperson Carolina Toha
said it was "normal" for bidders to express their views when they
lose a bid. She also underscored the importance of choosing "what is
most convenient," in reference to the lower cost of the Russian
aircraft (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, 7/9).
3. The Chamber of Deputies defense committee is questioning the
operation and called the Ministers of Interior and Defense to
testify next Tuesday on why had they been officially notified that
the helicopter chosen was the U.S.-manufactured Bell 412, what
ministry would pay for the equipment, and if the planned Russian
purchase is for the same type of helicopter that nose-dived during
the 2002 Air and Space Fair (Fidae). Meanwhile, Senate defense
committee Chairman Jorge Arancibia said his committee had been
informed of the acquisition and that it had considered the decision
to buy Russian "adequate." (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, 7/9).
4. During the controversy over the Russian helicopters, Chile is
negotiating a US$275-million deal with the United States for
long-range artillery and support vehicles, pending U.S.
Congressional approval (El Mercurio, 7/9).
5. Congressman Alberto Cardemil (RN) said it is "odd" for the Army
to buy Russian aircraft, when "it has been consistently
standardizing all its equipment by acquiring western-manufactured
weapons and aircraft." Reportedly, only Venezuela and Peru are using
Russian helicopters (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, 7/8).
6. The Foreign Ministry received a second letter from Secretary of
Commerce Gary Locke, but this time in reference to the Secretary's
upcoming visit to Santiago for the Americas Competitive Forum in
September (La Tercera, conservative, independent, 7/9).
7. House defense committee member congressman Ivan Moreira (UDI)
said the GOC must "give priority to quality and safety" over cost,
in purchasing the aircraft (La Segunda, 7/8).
Honduras
--------------
8. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza was "surprised" so see
that some are trying to give the impression that the OAS is against
Oscar Arias' mediation of the crisis in Honduras, adding that Arias
has the hemispheric organization's full support (El Mercurio, 7/9).
9. Honduran Foreign Affairs Minister Patricia Rodas sent Honduran
diplomats an e-mail informing them that the current ambassador to
Chile, Francisco Martinez, has "lost authority" to represent the
government of Honduras in Chile (La Segunda, 7/8). Rodas is loyal
to Zelaya.
Arturo Valenzuela Hearing
--------------
10. In the Senate's foreign relations hearing, Arturo Valenzuela
said it is necessary to resolve not just Zelaya's ousting, but also
the "underlining problems" that led to the crisis in Honduras. He
said the main issue in this case is that there was "an
unconstitutional transfer of power" in Honduras. Valenzuela labeled
the coup in Honduras "unacceptable" (El Mercurio; La Nacion,
government-owned, editorially independent, 7/9).
11. Arturo Valenzuela defended the role of the OAS, stating that it
had been the region's "unanimous decision" to condemn the coup
against Zelaya. "For too long Latin AMERICA resolved democracy's
problems by interrupting the democratic order.... That cannot happen
again," he said. Valenzuela said Arias and the OAS will also have to
deal with the fact that "it's possible that Venezuela played a role
in the situation in Honduras" (La Tercera, 7/9).
Chilean economy
--------------
12. Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs senior economist for Latin
America, predicts that Chile's economy will begin moderately
recovering after the second quarter (El Mercurio, 7/9)
URBAN
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 9
Leading Story
--------------
1. The Health Ministry has instructed public hospitals to postpone
5,000 surgeries so that the respective physicians and resources can
be used to treat the high number of patients with respiratory
emergencies related to the outbreak of AH1N1.
Chile-U.S. Military Sales
--------------
2. The Chilean Government downplayed the U.S. reaction to Chile's
decision to buy Russian helicopters. Spokesperson Carolina Toha
said it was "normal" for bidders to express their views when they
lose a bid. She also underscored the importance of choosing "what is
most convenient," in reference to the lower cost of the Russian
aircraft (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, 7/9).
3. The Chamber of Deputies defense committee is questioning the
operation and called the Ministers of Interior and Defense to
testify next Tuesday on why had they been officially notified that
the helicopter chosen was the U.S.-manufactured Bell 412, what
ministry would pay for the equipment, and if the planned Russian
purchase is for the same type of helicopter that nose-dived during
the 2002 Air and Space Fair (Fidae). Meanwhile, Senate defense
committee Chairman Jorge Arancibia said his committee had been
informed of the acquisition and that it had considered the decision
to buy Russian "adequate." (El Mercurio, conservative, influential
newspaper-of-record, 7/9).
4. During the controversy over the Russian helicopters, Chile is
negotiating a US$275-million deal with the United States for
long-range artillery and support vehicles, pending U.S.
Congressional approval (El Mercurio, 7/9).
5. Congressman Alberto Cardemil (RN) said it is "odd" for the Army
to buy Russian aircraft, when "it has been consistently
standardizing all its equipment by acquiring western-manufactured
weapons and aircraft." Reportedly, only Venezuela and Peru are using
Russian helicopters (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, 7/8).
6. The Foreign Ministry received a second letter from Secretary of
Commerce Gary Locke, but this time in reference to the Secretary's
upcoming visit to Santiago for the Americas Competitive Forum in
September (La Tercera, conservative, independent, 7/9).
7. House defense committee member congressman Ivan Moreira (UDI)
said the GOC must "give priority to quality and safety" over cost,
in purchasing the aircraft (La Segunda, 7/8).
Honduras
--------------
8. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza was "surprised" so see
that some are trying to give the impression that the OAS is against
Oscar Arias' mediation of the crisis in Honduras, adding that Arias
has the hemispheric organization's full support (El Mercurio, 7/9).
9. Honduran Foreign Affairs Minister Patricia Rodas sent Honduran
diplomats an e-mail informing them that the current ambassador to
Chile, Francisco Martinez, has "lost authority" to represent the
government of Honduras in Chile (La Segunda, 7/8). Rodas is loyal
to Zelaya.
Arturo Valenzuela Hearing
--------------
10. In the Senate's foreign relations hearing, Arturo Valenzuela
said it is necessary to resolve not just Zelaya's ousting, but also
the "underlining problems" that led to the crisis in Honduras. He
said the main issue in this case is that there was "an
unconstitutional transfer of power" in Honduras. Valenzuela labeled
the coup in Honduras "unacceptable" (El Mercurio; La Nacion,
government-owned, editorially independent, 7/9).
11. Arturo Valenzuela defended the role of the OAS, stating that it
had been the region's "unanimous decision" to condemn the coup
against Zelaya. "For too long Latin AMERICA resolved democracy's
problems by interrupting the democratic order.... That cannot happen
again," he said. Valenzuela said Arias and the OAS will also have to
deal with the fact that "it's possible that Venezuela played a role
in the situation in Honduras" (La Tercera, 7/9).
Chilean economy
--------------
12. Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs senior economist for Latin
America, predicts that Chile's economy will begin moderately
recovering after the second quarter (El Mercurio, 7/9)
URBAN