CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 24

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000800 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 - AUGUST 24 Lead Story -------------- ¶1. Tests show that the virus affecting two turkey breeding farms in the Fifth Region is the AH1N1 virus that affected humans this winter. This makes Chile the first country to detect the virus in turkeys. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also monitoring the two farms (Conservative afternoon La Segunda, 8/21 and all dailies 8/23). U.S. Sailor Arrested -------------- ¶2. "Gringo sailor sweet-talks a 15 year-old Lolita": During a normal check of nightclubs in the port of Valparaiso, the police surprised a USS Makin Island sailor (age 26) with an under aged 15 year-old girl. The woman was taken to the hospital for an examination to determine if she had had sexual intercourse with the sailor. The sailor and the owner of the nightclub were arrested (La Estrella de Valparaiso, 8/24) ¶3. Headline: "American sailor arrested in Valparaiso for abusing a Minor": The police arrested a USS Makin Island sailor who was surprised in a hotel bedroom with a 15 year-old girl The police also arrested the hotel's administrator for possible ties with a prostitution ring involving minors. The U.S. sailor testified until after midnight and was then handed to the custody of the Chilean Navy where high level ship and U.S. Embassy officials arrived (Radio Cooperativa on line, 8/23). ¶4. A 23-year old sailor who belongs in the USS Makin Island was arrested last night charged with alleged statutory rape. The individual, with initials A.P.D., was taken by surprise in a brothel in Valparaiso while in the company of a 16-year old minor. Although tests conducted on the minor showed no evidence of a sexual act, the police detained the owner of the brothel for purported involvement in a trafficking in persons ring. According to Carabineros' Major Sergio Lipski, "the minor was taken by surprise in a bedroom, but was not engaged in sexual behavior" (La Tercera, 8/24). U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶5. Interview with John Podesta, head of Barack Obama's transition team, entitled, "The next six to eight months will be decisive for Obama." Podesta, director of one of the most influential progressive think tanks in the world, The Center for American Progress, said that the health reform "is the most important project this year" for President Obama, and that failing to approve the reform would "hurt" the President (Conservative, influential La Tercera, 8/23). ¶6. American citizen Melissa Odell was walking in Valparaiso when an individual tried to snatch her purse. Melissa hung on to it and was dragged several feet, receiving a deep cut in her head. Two individuals jumped in to help Odell, but the thief ran away with her purse, credit card, and approximately US$98 (Popular Las Ultimas Noticias, 8/23). Business -------------- ¶7. Chinese multi-national companies are looking to invest in Chile, especially in mining, energy, and vineyards. China is Chile's primary destination of overall exports and Chinese investment in Chile since 1974 totals US$84.4 million (La Tercera, 8/23). U.S.-Colombia Agreement -------------- ¶8. Interview with Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez entitled: "This is a cooperation agreement to defeat narcotics trafficking and terrorism. We must not forget that presidential candidates and innocent people have been murdered in Colombia. The international community is very supportive in expressing its condolences for these deaths, but truly effective cooperation in this fight is scarce and the United States has been very generous in that (...) President Bachelet has been very explicit in respecting Colombia's agreement with the United States and we highly value that" (El Mercurio, 8/23). ¶9. Brazilian President Lula da Silva suggested that President Obama meet with the presidents of South America to discuss the presence of U.S. troops in Colombia's bases. In a telephone conversation, Brazil underscored the sensitivity in the region over the announcement and reiterated the need to have judicial guarantees that military activities will be limited to Colombian territory, said Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (El Mercurio, 8/23). ¶10. President Hugo Chavez said that at the UNASUR meeting in Argentina, he would "unmask the lies," presented by Colombia. In his radio program "Alo Presidente," Chavez showed a copy of a U.S. Air Force document outlining the types of bases that will operate in Colombia, which are referred to as "expeditionary facilities" (La Tercera, 8/24). Chile-Peru -------------- ¶11. In an interview, Peruvian President Alan Garcia commented on his decision to contest maritime borders with Chile with the International Court of The Hague. "One day people will understand that it is best to resolve these matters through institutions created for this purpose rather than discussing them through the press.... The maritime border... is an economic issue as well," said Garcia. The claim affects 35,000 kilometers of sea under Chilean sovereignty. Asked about Bolivian President Evo Morales' claim that the suit was intended to hurt ongoing negotiations between Chile and Bolivia over the latter's access to the sea, Garcia said: "Since he (Evo Morales) cannot pick a fight with Santiago he picks one with Lima, which is an adversary that entails a lower cost (for Bolivia)" (La Tercera, 8/23). ¶12. In an interview with CNN-Chile, Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez rebutted President Garcia and said that Peru's claim with The Hague "was a major provocation," because Garcia "had built" a case to question maritime borders that have been respected and never questioned by either country for the past 50 years. Fernandez also that in his interview Garcia had somewhat admitted that Peru had played a part in preventing Bolivia from exporting gas to Chile (La Tercera, 8/24). Blackwater -------------- ¶13. Some say that Blackwater has expanded its operations so much into what used to be an exclusive area of the Pentagon, and that its activities are so deeply intertwined with the U.S. defense system, that President Obama could very well have already approved several million dollars for the controversial company without even knowing it (El Mercurio, 8/23). Ecuador -------------- ¶14. In an interview, the President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes expressed his admiration for Presidents Obama and Lula for their leadership and democratic commitment. Funes reiterated his independence from all axis of power in the continent, including the bloc led by Hugo Chavez. However, he said, "it is not for him to judge any head of state in the region" (El Mercurio, 8/24) SIMONS