Santiago Chile Media Report, January 14

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000040 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 Chile Media Report, January 14 Lead Story ¶1. Dailies provided extensive coverage on the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, the two Chilean women who are missing in the island and international assistance efforts. Haiti/U.S.-Chile ¶2. "Obama Calls President Bachelet to Coordinate Aid." At approximately 7:00pm, President Michelle Bachelet held a phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama to coordinate assistance efforts for Haiti. Sources at La Moneda revealed that Obama also conveyed his sympathy over the Chilean women who went missing. Bachelet told her American counterpart about Chilean Presidential delegate to Haiti Juan Gabriel Vald????s's mission to coordinate the assistance. (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio, 1/14) ¶3. EFE wire story: Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama called President Michelle Bachelet Wednesday evening to discuss the tragedy in Haiti. Obama conveyed his sympathy over the missing Chileans, which according to Foreign Ministry sources sum up to four, and spoke about coordinating the humanitarian aid efforts initiated by both countries. In addition, the U.S. President praised Brigade General Ricardo Toro's strength of mind for having accepted to temporarily take charge of Minustah's operations in spite of his wife's disappearance in the island. (Liberal, online daily El Mostrador, 1/14) ¶4. Chilean Representative to the U.N. Heraldo Mu????oz commented on the disaster: "Fate has vented its anger on Haiti." In spite of the heartbreaking panorama, Ambassador Mu????oz picks up notes that the world has put back its eyes on the impoverished Caribbean nation, "All of a sudden, this tragedy may become an opportunity," he noted. (El Mercurio, 1/14) ¶5. Editorial entitled "The Disaster in Haiti and the International Community's Debt." "Images of the catastrophe are a crude reminder that, in spite of the longstanding efforts to assist the Caribbean nation in leaving behind it's weighed down condition in the Hemisphere, these have been insufficient, although valued . . . In the midst of this emergency, one cannot put aside a further long-term focus, which dictates that the international community's commitment with Haiti, especially Latin America's, should be sustained." (La Tercera, 1/14) IPR ¶6. After two years of legislative procedures, the Chilean Senate approved reforming the Intellectual Property Law that modernizes the legislation that has been in force since the 70s. In essence, the new text increases sanctions on individuals who infringe intellectual property rights, but at the same time makes explicit the conditions under which they are allowed to make copies of copyrighted works for a greater cause. In addition, the law honors the accords signed by Chile under the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, by limiting, among other issues, the responsibility of Internet providers (ISP) when users infringe the law. (El Mercurio 1/14) Local Politics ¶7. Former Presidential candidate Marco Enriquez-Ominami (who obtained 20.13 percent of the votes in the first round) gave his support to government coalition presidential aspirant Eduardo Frei. Explicitly, Deputy Enriquez-Ominami avoided mentioning Frei's name while endorsing his campaign, and gave his followers full autonomy in the upcoming runoff. Enriquez-Ominami also revealed that he will be an opponent to any of the candidates elected next Sunday, January 17 and suggested he would compete again in 2013. (El Mercurio, 1/14) ¶8. Opinion polling company Mori released its latest poll prior to next Sunday's runoff: Sebastian Pi????era 40.8 percent; Eduardo Frei 39.4 percent; Null/Will Not Vote 20.8 percent. The survey conducted 1,200 face to face interviews during January 1-9. It has a 3 percent margin of error. (El Mercurio, 1/14) SIMONS