Chilean Perspectives on Rio Group Summit in Cancun and

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000051 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/25 TAGS: PREL PGOV OAS CI SUBJECT: Chilean Perspectives on Rio Group Summit in Cancun and Insulza Reelection CLASSIFIED BY: Paul E. Simons, Ambassador, State, AMB; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) On February 24, Ambassador spoke separately with President-elect Pinera and Foreign Minister Fernandez on the recent Rio Group Summit in Mexico. Both were upbeat on the outcome with respect to the new regional body. ¶2. (C) According to Pinera, the "conference" which was announced will not be a formal "organization" and will not replace the OAS. Chile, Pinera noted, has no desire to exclude the United States from any regional body and Pinera wants to work to strengthen the OAS. Pinera also said he had a number of useful bilaterals in Cancun, including with Bolivian President Morales and Brazilian President Lula. ¶3. (C) FM Fernandez said that the results of the Mexico meeting were very positive. Thanks to Chilean leadership, the "Comunidad Latina" that was announced would be a "theoretical" body with no real power to challenge the OAS. It was useful, Fernandez noted, to have OAS Secretary General Insulza present in Cancun to maintain the stature of the group. ¶4. (C) On OAS reelection, Fernandez asserted that Insulza lacked support from only three countries for his reelection - Mexico, Peru and the United States. He said that Insulza was looking forward to his meeting with the Secretary later this week to lay out his vision for the organization. Fernandez asserted that ALBA countries sought to identify an alternative candidate, but that both Tabare Vazquez and Oscar Arias had not expressed interest. "There will be nobody else," he asserted, again requesting a signal of U.S. support for Insulza. SIMONS