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