Santiago Oct. 8 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000972 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI SUBJECT: Santiago Oct. 8 Media Report Lead Story -------------- ¶1. The Distortions Committee, formed by Central Bank and finance, agriculture, foreign affairs, and economy ministry officials decreed a 15% temporary special duty on powdered milk and gouda cheese imports from Uruguay and Argentina (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 10/8). Salitre Exercise -------------- ¶2. Yesterday, at 2pm, Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia-Belaunde told the press in Lima that Chile had changed the "script" or scenario of the "Salitre" exercise. "We welcome this (the change) to avoid suspicions and sensitivities," said Garcia-Belaunde. Sources in Lima said that in a meeting of the intelligence chiefs of the Armed Forces of two countries yesterday in Santiago, the Chileans had informed their Peruvian counterparts of the change. The information was then relayed to Lima's ambassador in Santiago, Carlos Pareja, who phoned Garcia-Belaunde. The foreign minister informed President Garcia, who in turn said, "This is a good gesture. We must acknowledge it." The same sources said that in a meeting yesterday in Santiago, Ambassador Pareja told his Chilean counterpart that Peru "valued Chile's decision to change" the hypothetical scenario of the exercise. In Lima, Garcia-Belaunde explained that the exercise would no longer pertain to a South American country in the north invading another in the south, but rather to "two countries on an island in conflict over more domestic issues." A statement issued yesterday late evening by the Chilean Air Force says it had made "strategic adjustments" to the exercise so that "it would not offend anyone." The statement, however, says that the exercise had never considered the hypothesis of a clash with a neighbor country and concludes that the "essence of exercise remains unchanged." The Chilean Foreign Ministry has not commented (Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 10/8). ¶3. During a meeting of ministers in Lima, Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia-Belaunde received a phone call from his ambassador in Santiago, Carlos Pareja, to let him know that the Chilean Air Force had changed the "script" of the "Salitre" exercise. The announcement in Peru surprised the GOC. The exercise featured a fictitious country threatening peace and disavowing international treaties, which upset Peru. Chile, on the other hand, stressed that the goal is to train military forces for United Nations peace missions and invited Peruvian observers. Sources in Lima said that the change was announced during the 19th Chile-Peru Air Force Intelligence Conference in Santiago. (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 10/8). ¶4. Yesterday, Peruvian Foreign Minister Garcia-Belaunde said from Lima that "although the exercise is still called 'Salitre,' its scenario and script are totally different," because it no longer refers to a neighbor country, but rather to two countries on an island." Yesterday in Santiago, Peruvian Ambassador Carlos Pareja reiterated in his meeting with Chilean Foreign Minister Fernandez that Peru would not send observers to the exercise. He also said that the Chilean Air Force had informed him of the change in scenario. Neither the Chilean Defense nor Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed this (Government-owned, La Nacion, 10/8). U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶5. The Obama family has been daring in the work they have chosen to decorate the White House and has chosen a collection of 45 contemporary and modern paintings with works by Mark Rothko, Josef Albert, among other foreign and several Afro-American artists (El Mercurio, 10/8). Ximena Hartsock -------------- ¶6. D.C.'s council members did not confirm Chilean Ximena Hartsock as parks and recreation director because she is a woman and Latino. Hartsock explained that case is strongly tied to the political battle between the current mayor and council member Marion Berry. Hartsock arrived to the United States in 1997, and earned a doctorate in administration and political science from George Washington University to start her career in government. "I had never been discriminated for being Latino.... I've always been evaluated based on my qualifications," she said (La Tercera, 10/8). ¶7. Ximena Hartsock said she was not confirmed because of the racism that exists among Afro-Americans who don't accept a Latino in office (El Mercurio, 10/8). ¶8. "What happened to me reflects the racism that there is in Washington and the enormous gap among social classes," said Hartsock. "I was told that I could not be in office because I am Latino .... They speak as if I were from the upper class, which I am not.... Plus there is the political rivalry. . . . The left follows Marion Barry, who was caught with drugs and prostitutes. Poor and colored people are with him and many of them prefer to continue living off the state than to work," said Hartsock. She said she is not concerned, because her qualifications are well known, adding that she received a proposal to work for President Obama (Conservative, afternoon La Segunda, 10/7). Honduras -------------- ¶9. Micheletti and Zelaya delegates began their talks yesterday with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and a group of foreign ministers from several Latin American countries (La Tercera, 10/8). Local -------------- ¶10. The latest Adimark poll gives President Bachelet a 76% rate of approval. This is three points higher than in August and a record for any president in Chile. Her rate of disapproval also fell three points and now stands at 16%. The rate of approval for the government increased 7 points and is now is 64% (La Segunda, 10/7). SIMONS