Santiago Media Report January 20

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000054 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 Media Report January 20 Incoming Administration ¶1. President-elect Sebastian Pi????era appointed his close advisor, Rodrigo Hinzpeter, to manage the establishment of the incoming administration. Among Hinzpeter's first duties are to designate delegates at the Foreign Ministry's Protocol Office and the Presidency's Administration Office. Yesterday, Pi????era received the U.S. State Department's letter of congratulations in which the U.S. Administration conveyed its determination to continue strengthening bilateral ties. (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio 1/20) ¶2. "U.S. Sends Congratulations." "We congratulate President Elect Sebastian Pi????era on his election and the Chilean people for an exemplary election process," said State Department spokesperson Phillip J. Crowley in a statement. (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 1/20) ¶3. "Obama Administration Congratulates the President-elect." "We look forward to working with the President-elect," said State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley. (Financial, business-oriented Estrategia, 1/20) ¶4. In a phone conversation, U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons congratulated President-elect Sebastian Pi????era on his election in the runoff. Simons wished him "success at his work as President" and conveyed Washington's deep interest in "continuing to work enthusiastically with his administration to maintain strengthening their close relations on bilateral, regional and global issues." Ambassador Simons also saluted Christian Democratic Senator Eduardo Frei and underscored his "great dedication to public service and to the country's welfare." (Online daily Emol.com 1/20) Haiti ¶5. Local dailies continued to provide extensive coverage on Haiti, focusing primarily on the deployment of additional U.S. troops and the controversy raised by the alleged expedited adoption of Haitian children: ¶6. "U.S. Troops Deploy in Haiti and Begin Aid Distribution." While approximately 10 U.S. helicopters loaded with troops landed on the presidential palace lawns in the northeastern area of Haiti's capital city, a C-17 dropped 14,000 rations of prepared food and 15,000 liters of water. American forces control the airport area in Port au Prince and maintain a strong presence in the seaport area. Chile's Minors Service (SENAME) has received 30 queries about adopting Haitian children. Yesterday, 53 Haitian orphans - who were in the advanced stages of the adoption process - arrived in the United States. (La Tercera, 1/20) ¶7. "Controversy Hikes over Expedite Adoptions of Haitian Children." Countries such as the United States and the Netherlands have accelerated the processes. Chile opposes to "express" procedures. "We are not in favor of massive or 'express' adoption procedures under any circumstance, even beyond the dramatic situation that is taking place in Haiti," noted Eugenio San Martin, SENAME Director, in allusion to the U.S. and Dutch measures to speed up the adoption processes of Haitian children. "While we remain focused on family reunification in Haiti, authorizing the use of humanitarian parole for orphans who are eligible for adoption in the United States will allow them to receive the care they need here," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. She underscored that adoption authorization will be granted only to children who met the criteria before the earthquake. (El Mercurio, 1/20) ¶8. Thousands of Haitians are trying to flee Port au Prince in search for food and water. Rescue workers distribute over 250,000 rations per day, half of which are delivered by the United States in accordance to the U.N. Food Program. (El Mercurio 1/20) ¶9. Dozens of U.S. troops landed on the Presidential Palace lawn in Haiti taking control of the area. The United States has clarified that its forces will not patrol the streets and their deployment should provide Haitians with "the confidence that the hospitals will remain open to all citizens." (El Mercurio, 1/20) ¶10. "Chileans Want to Adopt Haitian Orphans." UNICEF's office in Santiago has received 20 requests, while NGO America Solidaria another seven. Other petitions have been submitted to Chile's Foreign Ministry and institutions such as SENAME, but the road doesn't seem expedited. The United States announced that it will accelerate adoption processes on behalf of Haitian orphans. However this will apply to cases already underway. Secretary Janet Napolitano pointed out that the U.S. priority is "family reunification in Haiti." Thus, she clarified that the United States would not open its doors to all orphans. (Conservative, afternoon daily La Segunda 1/19) Economy and Trade ¶11. The Heritage Foundation 2010 Economic Index showed that Chile dropped two places since last year. Chile's economic freedom score is 77.2, making its economy the 10th freest in the ¶2010. (La Tercera, 1/20) ¶12. Chile's exports to China doubled shipments to the United States in 2009. 23.8 percent of Chilean exports were bound to China last year, mainly of copper and cellulose. For the third year in a row, China displaced the United States as primary destination of domestic shipments, a trend that will continue, according to experts. (La Tercera, 1/20) Obama Administration Anniversary ¶13. Editorial: "Barack Obama's Hard Learning Experience in Office." "When assessing Barack Obama's first year in office, the balance shows achievements in addition to promises yet to be fulfilled. He has faced a hard task, therefore a combination of accomplishments and challenges should not surprise . . . On the international scope . . . in a short period of time, the U.S. President has changed the negative perception held by the international community during the past Administration . . . In Latin America, . . . Obama's respectful and cordial tone shown at the 2009 Summit of the Americas was welcomed, but it has not meant higher U.S. attention toward the region, although its intervention in the Honduras crisis and its rejection to reincorporating Cuba in the OAS with no conditions were accurate . . . The general balance shows a government which, in spite of being more active and possible of major changes, still does not fulfill the expectations it created, something that time could play against it." (La Tercera, 1/20) SIMONS