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DE RUEHSG #1013/01 3231051
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R 181051Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3968
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3629
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2173
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1136
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0530
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1841
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5800
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4096
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1982
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001013 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL PGOV SNAR CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT - NOVEMBER 15-17 
 
FRONT PAGE NEWS 
--------------- 
 
¶1.  THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (ANEFE) DID NOT ACCEPT THE 
GOVERNMENT'S SALARY ADJUSTMENT AND CALLED FOR AN INDEFINITE NATIONAL 
STRIKE BEGINNING TODAY THAT WILL AFFECT HEALTH SERVICES, CUSTOMS, 
PORTS, AND SCHOOLS; RICARDO LAGOS OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED THE PPD'S 
NOMINATION TO RUN IN THE CONCERTACION'S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. 
 
U.S. RELATED 
--------------- 
¶2. INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE'S COMMITTEE FOR LATIN 
AMERICA, CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL, ENTITLED, "I WILL SUGGEST 
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HAVE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH 
CHILE." 
 
INQUIRED ABOUT BILATERAL RELATIONS:  "CHILE IS THE PERFECT PARTNER 
FOR THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE BOTH SHARE SIMILAR CONCERNS REGARDING 
DEMOCRACY, THE ECONOMY, AND POVERTY. THE UNITED STATES IS A LEADER 
IN THE FREE WORLD AND CHILE IS CERTAINLY A LEADER IN LATIN 
AMERICA....  RELATIONS WITH CHILE ARE EXCELLENT, BUT COULD BE 
BETTER. CHILE IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF COUNTRY WITH WHICH THE UNITED 
STATES SHOULD HAVE GREATER COOPERATION. CHILE IS A NATURAL PARTNER. 
IT HAS CIVIL RIGHTS AND A GREAT STANDARD OF LIVING, WHICH IS A GREAT 
INCENTIVE TO WORK CLOSER TOGETHER. AND WHEN THERE IS NEW BLOOD, 
THERE CAN BE NEW POLICIES. THAT IS WHY I WILL RECOMMEND PRESIDENT 
OBAMA THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST POSSIBLE COOPERATION WITH CHILE." 
 
ENGEL ALSO COMMENTED ON CHAVEZ: "IF WE FAIL TO SHOW INTEREST IN THE 
CONTINENT, OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND MOVEMENTS WILL FILL THAT VOID; I'M 
TALKING ABOUT HUGO CHAVEZ' MODEL, THE IRANIANS, THE CHINESE, AND 
EVEN THE RUSSIANS. IF THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO SHOW LACK OF 
INTEREST, AS IT HAS UNTIL NOW, THESE COUNTRIES WILL GAIN POWER AND 
THAT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR THE REGION OR FOR US.   THE BEST WAY FOR 
THE UNITED STATES TO COUNTER THESE COUNTRIES IS BY WORKING WITH 
CHILE TO SHOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT PAYMENT FOR 
PEACE AND PROSPERITY.... I HOPE THAT AFTER OBAMA TAKES OFFICE WE CAN 
IMPROVE RELATIONS, BUT THIS HAS TO COME FROM BOTH SIDES" (EL 
MERCURIO, CONSERVATIVE, INFLUENTIAL, NEWSPAPER-OF-RECORD, SUN. 
CIRC. 260,108, 11/16). 
 
¶3. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS DAVID JOHNSON, 
WILL ARRIVE IN SANTIAGO ON FRIDAY FOR AN OAS INTER-AMERICAN 
COMMISSION FOR CONTROL OF DRUG ABUSE (CICAD) SUMMIT. JOHNSON WILL 
ALSO MEET WITH THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL 
COUNCIL (CONACE), MARIA TERESA CHADWICK; UNDER SECRETARY OF INTERIOR 
FELIPE HARBOE, CARABINEROS AND THE INVESTIGATIONS POLICE (PDI) 
CHIEFS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS (EL MERCURIO, 
CIRC. 129,000, 11/17). 
 
¶4. NATIONAL FORESTRY CORPORATION (CONAF) REGIONAL DIRECTORS WILL 
MEET IN WASHINGTON WITH U.S. NATIONAL PARK OFFICIALS WHO ARE WORKING 
ON IMPROVING SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WILD PROTECTED AREAS IN 
FRAMEWORK OF THE CHILE-U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT AND 
IN VIEW OF THE EXCELLENT RESULTS OF THE SISTER PARK AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN TORRES DEL PAINE AND YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARKS (LA PRENSA 
AUSTRAL REGIONAL DAILY, 11/5). 
 
¶5. STANFORD UNIVERSITY EXPERT ON EDUCATIONAL SUBVENTION PROGRAMS, 
ERIC BETTINGER, VISITED CHILE INVITED BY THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. 
"CHILE'S SUBVENTION SYSTEM HAS BEEN POSITIVE, BUT HAS NOT BENEFITED 
ALL," SAID BETTINGER, ADDING THAT THE MODEL WOULD WORK BETTER IF 
PUBIC SCHOOLS HAD FEWER OBSTACLES TO BECOMING MORE COMPETITIVE (EL 
MERCURIO, 11/17). 
 
¶6. ALVARO VARGAS LLOSA ARTICLE: "OBAMA ADVISORS SAID THE 
PRESIDENT-ELECT WILL SEEK 'A DIRECT DIPLOMACY' WITH CUBA, WILL LIFT 
RESTRICTIONS ON TRIPS AND MONEY SENT TO THE ISLAND, BUT WILL NOT 
LIFT THE COMMERCIAL EMBARGO UNLESS THERE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS" (LA 
TERCERA, CONSERVATIVE, INDEPENDENT, SAT. CIRC. 195,626, 11/15). 
 
¶7. COLUMN BY INTERNATIONAL COMMENTATOR LEONIDAS IRARRAZAVAL: 
"BARACK OBAMA'S ELECTION HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING.... HE BRINGS HOPE 
FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T FEEL WE ARE A PRIORITY FOR THE UNITED 
STATES.... WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR PROBLEMS WILL BE LOOKED AT MORE 
THOROUGHLY (DIARIO FINANCIERO, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DAILY, CIRC. 
30,000). 
 
¶8. REGULAR COLUMNIST JUAN FRANCISCO COLOANE WROTE: "ONE OF THE 
PILLARS OF BARACK OBAMA'S AGENDA ... IS TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF THE 
UNITED STATES ABROAD.  IN THIS CONTEXT, THE IMMEDIATE CLOSURE OF THE 
GUANTANAMO PRISON... WORKS (ONLY) AS A SYMBOL.... (BECAUSE) 
GUANTANAMO IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF A MASS OF PROBLEMS THAT 
REQUIRE TIME AND POLITICAL REBUILDING GIVEN THEIR MAGNITUDE OF THE 
TASK"  (EL MOSTRADOR, ON-LINE NEWS AGENCY, 11/17). 
 
DEA / BOLIVIA 
-------------------- 
¶9. PRESIDENT EVO MORALES' DECISION TO EXPEL THE DEA WAS THE CHANCE 
THAT RUSSIA WAS WAITING FOR TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE IN LATIN 
AMERICA. BOLIVIA WANTS TO REPLACE THE DEA WITH ANOTHER REGIONAL 
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY UNASUR, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FINANCED BY 
MOSCOW. IN SEPTEMBER, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO LA PAZ LEONID GOLUBEV 
SAID RUSSIA WAS WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH BOLIVIA IN ALL THE 
COUNTER-NARCOTICS PROGRAMS "LEFT BY THE AMERICANS... BECAUSE IT IS A 
BIG PROBLEM." THE PURCHASE OF FIVE RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS AND POSSIBLY 
TWO MORE TO FIGHT NARCOTICS IN BOLIVIA "IS THE FIRST STEP" IN THIS 
DIRECTION, SAID THE RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT (LA TERCERA, SUN. CIRC. 
222,084, 11/16). 
 
CUBA 
------ 
¶10. THE RIO GROUP ANNOUNCED CUBA'S FULL ACCESSION TO THE BLOC. 
CHILEAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY ALBERTO VAN KLAVEREN SAID 
THIS WAS THE CONSENSUS AFTER SEVERAL YEARS. "THE RIO GROUP WANT TO 
PRESENT ITSELF AS A REGIONAL INTERLOCUTOR AND IN THIS CONTEXT 
BELIEVES IT SHOULD NOT EXCLUDE ANY COUNTRY," SAID VAN KLAVEREN (EL 
MERCURIO, SAT. CIRC. 173,049, 11/15). 
 
LOCAL POLITICS 
----------------- 
¶11. RICARDO LAGOS OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED THE PPD HIS DECISION TO RUN AS 
THE PARTY'S NOMINEE IN THE CONCERTACION'S OPEN PRIMARY TO DEFINE ITS 
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE 2009 ELECTION.  THIS MEANS THAT JOS 
MIGUEL INSULAZA, PS CANDIDATE, WILL HAVE TO STEP DOWN AND THAT LAGOS 
WOULD RUN AGAINST EDUARDO FREI (DC) (LA TERCERA, CIRC. 101,000, 
11/7). 
 
¶12. THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (ANEFE) DID NOT ACCEPT THE 
GOVERNMENT'S 6.5% SALARY INCREASE, STATING IT DOES NOT SUFFICE GIVEN 
THE 9.9% INFLATION, AND CALLED AN INDEFINITE NATIONWIDE STRIKE 
BEGINNING TODAY.  THE STRIKE WILL AFFECT HEALTH CENTERS --  EXCEPT 
EMERGENCY SERVICES - MUNICIPALITIES, CUSTOMS, PORTS, AND GARBAGE 
PICK-UP IN SOME AREAS, AND MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS. THE LATTER WILL, 
HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO HAND OUT DAILY LUNCHES (ALL DAILIES, 11/27). 
 
ENVIRONMENT 
---------------- 
¶13. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE HIRED BRITISH EXPERT SIMONS ANHOLD TO 
IMPROVE CHILE'S IMAGE ABROAD. ANHOLD SURPRISED A GROUP OF 
ENTREPRENEURS AND PUBLIC OPINION LEADERS LAST WEEK BY STATING THAT 
ANY EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE COUNTRY'S IMAGE WOULD BE USELESS IF CHILE 
ALLOWS THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS IN THE PATAGONIA (HYDROAYSEN 
PROJECT). CHILE, HE SAID, SHOULD TRY TO PROMOTE ITS IMAGE AS 
PROTECTING NATURE AND NOT BY DOING WHAT BRAZIL DID WITH THE AMAZON 
(LA TERCERA, SUNDAY, 11/16). 
 
SURVEY 
-------- 
¶14. BICENTENNIAL 2008 UC-ADIMARK POLL SHOWS THAT CHILEANS PERCEIVE 
THEIR COUNTRY AS AN ISLAND IN TERMS OF CULTURE, RELIGION, AND 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ENTAILS A STRONG LACK OF AFFINITY WITH 
THE REST OF THE REGION.  41% SAID CHILE IS CULTURALLY UNIQUE, 38% 
THAT IT IS UNIQUE IN ITS DEMOCRACY AND ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
OVER 50% BELIEVE THAT "CHILE IS A COUNTRY VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE 
REST OF LATIN AMERICA," 51% SAID CHILE SHOULD NOT ACT IN BLOCS WITH 
OTHER COUNTRIES. THE SURVEY IS ALSO A STRONG BLOW TO THOSE WHO 
PROMOTE REGIONAL UNITY, SUCH AS HUGO CHAVEZ, BECAUSE 75% BELIEVE 
THERE IS NO SHARED CULTURE OR IDENTITY IN THE CONTINENT. HOWEVER, 
THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THAT CHILEANS FEELS CLOSER TO THOSE IN LATIN 
AMERICAN IN ALL AREAS, EXCEPT THE ECONOMY, WHERE THEY FELL CLOSER TO 
THE UNITED STATES.   REGIONAL LEADERS ALSO DID POORLY. ON "LITTLE/NO 
SYMPATHY" ALL REGIONAL LEADERS DID POORLY, BUT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF 
DISAFFECTION WERE FOR HUGO CHAVEZ (68%), CRISTINA FERNANDEZ AND ALAN 
GARCIA (67%), AND FIDEL CASTRO (66%) (EL MERCURIO, SUNDAY, 11/16). 
 
 
SIMONS