VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0745 2262048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132048Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3592
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000745 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BSC AND PM--JEFF BURNETT 
DEFENSE FOR OSD--KRISTI HUNT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR CI
SUBJECT: CHILE PARTICIPATION IN DEFENSE MINISTERIAL OF THE 
AMERICAS 
 
REF: STATE 83680 
 
¶1.  (U) Poloff met with Ambassador Boris Yopo, Chief of the 
International Affairs Division of the Ministry of Defense, 
and Maria Ines Ruz, on August 8 to discuss reftel request on 
Chile's participation in the Defense Ministerial of the 
Americas. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Chile wants the ministerial to focus on broad 
regional themes without being sidetracked by bilateral issues 
or revisiting issues already discussed in past fora.  Ruz 
said that in recent weeks Chile had feared that the conflict 
between Colombia and Ecuador would dominate the ministerial, 
and they are relieved that this issue has been resolved.  In 
general terms, Chile is interested in maintaining the 
ministerial as an open space for dialogue across the 
hemisphere and wants to avoid rehashing issues that have 
already been discussed at previous meetings.  (Note:  Ruz and 
Yopo did not specify which issue they feared other countries 
might try to re-open for discussion.  End Note.)  Chile is 
interested in maintaining the Williamsburg agenda and using 
the upcoming ministerial to further strengthen civilian 
control of the military in Latin America. 
 
¶3.  (U) In terms of specific topics of interest, Ruz said 
that Chile hoped to discuss three topics: 
--Military participation in disaster preparation 
--Military participation in peacekeeping operations generally 
and specifically the MINUSTAH operation in Haiti 
--Military participation and regional cooperation in 
preparation for major political events/meetings, particularly 
in the Caribbean 
 
¶4.  (U) On August 12, Ruz informed Poloff that the Chilean 
delegation will include:  Defense Minister Jose Goni; 
Undersecretary of War Gonzalo Garcia; Chief of the General 
Staff of National Defense Gen. Ivan Fabry; and Ministry of 
Defense International Affairs Advisor Maria Ines Ruz.  (Note: 
 In a separate meeting August 11 with DATT, an advisor to U/S 
Garcia expressed doubt that Garcia would attend.  Post is 
unsure if this hesitation is related to a recent Bachelet 
request for all Ministers to rein in travel spending.  End 
Note.) 
 
¶5.  (U) Ruz noted that Chile would be open to bilateral 
meetings with the U.S. or other countries.  Chile also hopes 
to continue discussions about a planned November 2008 seminar 
on defense modernization.  Ruz noted that at a June 27 
meeting in Santiago, Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies 
Director Richard Downie mentioned that the DMA would be a 
good opportunity for the U.S. and Chile to continue their 
discussions about preparations for this seminar.  Chile is 
interested in continuing this conversation in Banff.  Claudio 
Ortiz, Advisor to Defense Minister Goni, is the Chilean point 
of contact for this request and can be reached at 
cortiz@defensa.cl. 
 
¶6.  (U) Speaking in general terms about US-Chile relations, 
Yopo and Ruz noted that defense relations between the two 
countries have grown closer since 2005, owing in particular 
to regular Defense Consultative Commission (DCC) meetings. 
They noted that one theme that Chile hopes to explore in its 
ongoing defense dialogue with the U.S. is ways to improve 
Chile's defense cooperation with other Latin American 
countries. 
SIMONS