CHILE: RESPONSE TO NPT REPORTING REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000847

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/15
TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP PARM PGOV PREL IAEA CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: RESPONSE TO NPT REPORTING REQUEST

REF: STATE 83600

CLASSIFIED BY: Carol Urban, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) Below please find Embassy Santiago's response to reftel,
which requested information on current arms control and
nonproliferation policymaking processes in key countries in
preparation for the 2010 NPT Review Conference.


2. (C) Alvaro Guzman, in the Bureau of International and Human
Security in the Chilean Foreign Ministry, told Poloff that Chile's
attitude and position to towards the CTBT, FMCT, NPT and
U.S.-Russian arms control efforts remain the same. Chile supports
international nuclear arms control and non-proliferation efforts
and is actively involved in international fora to promote global
security.


3. (C) Guzman explained that Chile is considering re-evaluating the
13 steps proposal from the 2000 NPT RevCon. Guzman also stated
that Chile is interested in the de-alerting issue that would reduce
the number of deployed nuclear weapons. Chile will likely work
with Switzerland and Malaysia on the issue of de-alerting. In the
past, Chile worked with Sweden on de-alerting. Chile will not do
so in the lead-up to the 2010 NPT RevCon because Sweden currently
holds the rotating presidency of the EU and has expressed
reservations about advocating for de-alerting on behalf of the
entire EU.


4. (C) Chile is an active participant in the Nuclear Weapons-Free
Zones (NWFZ). According to Guzman, the five geographic NWFZ each
have a point of contact, and Chile is the point of contact for
Latin America. Moreover, Chile serves as the coordinator for the
other regional points of contact.


5. (C) The key government personnel involved in nuclear arms
control and non-proliferation decision making work in the Ministry
of Foreign Affair's Bureau of International and Human Security.
Ambassador Alfredo Labbe is the Director of the Bureau and he leads
Chile's policy review process. Marcos Robledo, a foreign policy
advisor to President Michelle Bachelet, is a close friend of
Ambassador Labbe and has an interest in disarmament issues, but his
role in nuclear arms and non-proliferation discussions unclear.


6. (C) Chile's Nuclear Energy Commission provides technical advice
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but is not involved in the
policy making progress. Chile's armed forces participate in policy
discussions about conventional weapons and chemical/biological
weapons disarmament, but they do not participate in the nuclear
arms control and non-proliferation decision making process.


7. (C) Chile is scheduled to hold Presidential elections in
December 2009, and the next Chilean President will be inaugurated
in March 2010. Guzman emphasized that Chile's policy on nuclear
arms control and non-proliferation will remain consistent
regardless of the outcome of the election.


8. POC for follow-up information in Embassy Santiago is Patrick
Fischer: FischerPJ@state.gov.
SIMONS