A/S Valenzuela Reviews Regional Issues with Chilean Foreign

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000009 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/15 TAGS: PREL ETRD SNAR OAS CI HO BL SUBJECT: A/S Valenzuela Reviews Regional Issues with Chilean Foreign Minister Fernandez REF: SANTIAGO 38 CLASSIFIED BY: Paul Simons, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary. In a January 12 meeting with WHA A/S Valenzuela, FM Fernandez pressed to set the timing for an extraordinary OAS meeting to elect a new Secretary General. The two discussed Honduras, agreeing on the importance of resolving the status of both de facto President Micheletti and President Zelaya. On Bolivia they considered possible regional cooperation to combat drug trafficking in that country. They discussed the possibility of the United States initiating confidence building measures with UNASUR, in part to deflect tension arising from the U.S.-Colombia DCA. They also reviewed the (pre-earthquake) situation in Haiti and Chile's relations with Peru and Argentina. They signed an extradition treaty and an MOU on U.S./Chile cooperation in third countries. End summary. ¶2. (U) Assistant Secretary Valenzuela met with Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez on February 12. Fernandez was accompanied by Under Secretary Angel Flisfisch, Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Goni, and Director for North America Isauro Torres. The U.S. delegation included the Ambassador, EPOL Counselor, and Senior Political Officer. TWO NEW BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ¶3. (U) Fernandez opened the meeting by noting the importance of two documents that he and the Assistant Secretary were to sign immediately following their meeting, a new extradition treaty and a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation in third countries. Fernandez said that the U.S./Chilean trilateral development cooperation builds on similar work that Chile is doing with Japan and hopes to start with Australia. He welcomed the new extradition treaty as an upgrade to the existing treaty that was signed in 1900 and highlighted the importance of combatting international crime. OAS ¶4. (SBU) Fernandez raised Chile's request that the Organization of America States (OAS) set a date for an extraordinary general assembly to consider the reelection of Jose Miguel Insulza as Secretary General. Fernandez noted that the date for the discussion of this request had been pushed back from January 13 to January 20. He emphasized that Chile is seeking to establish an improved institutional framework to select OAS Secretaries General. To reinforce his case, he cited several instances of long lame-duck periods or gaps. He said some Secretaries General were elected more than six months before the incumbent left office, while Insulza's term expires May 25 but the next regular general assembly will be in June. He argued that it would be best to hold the election before Insulza's term expires to simplify any transition. Chile believes that there should be a transition period of at least three months, so the election could be held in January, February or early March. Fernandez acknowledged that Insulza is seeking reelection but asserted that even so, he would likely change some of his team. He concluded by claiming that 30 countries support Chile's proposal, with the United States and Venezuela as the hold outs. He added that Venezuela is holding out because it hopes to identify an ALBA candidate, but he did not understand U.S. concerns. ¶5. (SBU) A/S Valenzuela said that while the United States does not have a position on Insulza's candidacy, he now had a better appreciation for the reasons behind Chile's request for the extraordinary session. He said that the United States would consider the matter and that he would be back in touch with FM Fernandez to discuss dates. HONDURAS SANTIAGO 00000009 002 OF 003 ¶6. (C) In response to Fernandez's inquiry about Honduras, the Assistant Secretary said the situation is complicated, since the parties there have not fully complied with the San Jose-Tegucigalpa Accord. He added that the election of Porfirio Lobo as president is an important but not sufficient development to restore Honduras in the international community. He continued that a major challenge is the status of both de facto president Micheletti and President Zelaya. He wondered if Brazil, which has offered Zelaya refuge at its embassy in Tegucigalpa, would be willing to receive Zelaya. Fernandez agreed that Zelaya's presence in Honduras is a problem and offered to talk to Brazil about the matter. BOLIVIA ¶7. (SBU) Fernandez turned to Bolivia, saying that while the two countries do not have full diplomatic relations, Chile enjoys the best imaginable non-diplomatic relations with Bolivia. He said that Chile has tried to promote stability in Bolivia and provide a positive influence. He added that Chile is looking to work with Bolivia on its request for access to the sea, but noted that Peru's maritime dispute with Chile could affect Chile's ability to work with Bolivia, as it could cut off maritime access for any sovereign corridor. He then turned to the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA),noting the value of Bolivia's renewed participation in the program along with the other Andean beneficiaries. ¶8. (C) A/S Valenzuela replied that the big problem for the United States is that Bolivia has expelled Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents from Bolivia, severely compromising Bolivia's ability to combat drug trafficking. He noted that increased Bolivian drug flows create problems for Bolivia's neighbors, including Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. He suggested that the United States look for ways to work with those neighboring countries to jointly promote counternarcotics efforts in Bolivia. If successful, that effort would both reduce narcotics flows and facilitate Bolivia's participation in the ATPA. In response, Fernandez said, "Let's do something." PERU AND ARGENTINA ¶9. (C) Fernandez said that there are strong anchors in Chile's relations with Peru, with over $7 billion in Chilean investments in Peru and a large resident Peruvian community in Chile. He attributed the problems in Peruvian-Chilean relations to a core group close to President Garcia, but said that Chile is not worried about those complications because it knows how to handle them. Fernandez said that Chile's relations with Argentina are excellent, noting that the two countries have agreed to construct a tunnel through the Andes to facilitate travel between them as part of a new integration treaty. HAITI ¶10. (SBU) Reflecting on the U.S.-Chile agreement to cooperate on development projects in third countries, Fernandez said that Chile has 200 police officers working in Haiti, and wondered if U.S.-Chile cooperation could be extended to Haiti. He noted that government institutions in Haiti are weak and institutional rebuilding is insufficient. He asked whether the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank could play a larger role in infrastructure and institution building, to which A/S Valenzuela said that the lenders are considering the matter. (Note: This discussion took place before the large earthquake hit Port au Prince later on January 12. For Chilean emergency assistance to Haiti, see reftel.) SANTIAGO 00000009 003 OF 003 UNASUR AND THE DCA ¶11. (C) Fernandez said that the U.S./Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) is still a sensitive point for some South American countries and makes Colombia an easier target for criticism, particularly by Chavez. He asked how the United States could help lower profile of the DCA. A/S Valenzuela said that Ecuador, as president pro tempore of UNASUR, in response to a letter on DCA from Secretaries Clinton and Gates, had asked whether the United States would be willing to enter into a discussion with UNASUR. The Assistant Secretary said that the United States is waiting for Ecuador to define the terms of reference for the discussion. He added that he is also considering what confidence building measures the United States and UNASUR could jointly undertake. Fernandez welcomed the suggestions, and Under Secretary Flisfisch said that Brazil should be brought into the process early on. Ambassador Goni suggested that the confidence building measures should include social projects, although Flisfisch cautioned that the social side of UNASUR is new, while the defense discussions are well established. BILATERAL RELATIONS ¶12. (U) As the meeting concluded, the Ambassador noted that discussion had focused on pressing regional issues. The absence of concerns on the bilateral side reflects the excellent state of bilateral relations. SIGNING CEREMONEY AND PRESS CONFERENCE ¶13. (U) After the meeting, the Assistant Secretary and Foreign Minister signed an extradition treaty and MOU on trilateral cooperation. After the signing ceremony they held a brief press conference. ¶14. (U) The Assistant Secretary cleared this cable. SIMONS