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TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT - MARCH 4 
 
Leading Stories 
--------------- 
¶1.  The opposition in Peru claims the FTA signed by that country and 
Chile is unconstitutional because it was not approved by Congress. 
Several Deans criticize private universities that issue law degrees 
after just three years. 
 
U.S.-Related News 
----------------- 
¶2.  Interview with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Admiral Michael Mullen, headlined, "We must Pay Close Attention to 
our Relations with Russia" 
Subheadline:  Admiral Mullen not concerned with Moscow's military 
influence in South America. 
 
¶3.  Reasons for his visit:  "It's very important for the U.S. 
military to be committed with South American countries, which is a 
crucial region.  In Chile's case, we want to strengthen a very 
strong relationship.  We need partners and Chile occupies a very 
important position of leadership in South America." 
 
¶4.  On Raul Castro's decision to remove several government 
officials, Mullen said, "He (Raul Castro) is the leader of a country 
and he must do what he believes is most appropriate." 
 
¶5.  Russia:  "One of our biggest challenges is in regard to future 
commitments with Russia.  Last year, I spoke to my Russian 
counterpart about the Russian ships going to Venezuela.  The U.S. 
Navy does that all the time (naval exercises), so it is fine by me 
if its ships are cooperating with Venezuela....  I am paying close 
attention to our relations with Russia and also China, which is 
signing agreements worldwide.  We will support those commitments 
that are positive improvements." 
 
¶6.  On the South American Defense Council and chances that Chavez 
might use it to expand his influence, Mullen said:  "The view of the 
Council is something that concerns its members.  I do believe that a 
regional approach is very important....  It's up to its leaders, 
including Mr. Chavez, to see how it will deal with the region's 
challenges.  I only hope that the council is seen as a very positive 
influence in the region" (El Mercurio, conservative, influential 
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 3/4). 
 
¶7.  In a column, the Director of the national prison guard system 
(Gendarmeria) Alejandro Jimenez rebuts the Department of State Human 
Rights report's observations on the state of prisons in Chile:  "We 
never received from the U.S. authorities a request for information 
or a visit to penal facilities.  Had that been the case, we would 
have responded positively.  A report based on second-hand 
information is not too thorough (La Tercera, conservative, 
independent, circ. 101,000, 3/4)." 
 
¶8.  73-year old Linda Hall Brodie died from a heart attack while on 
the cruise ship Carnival Splendor.  She will be repatriated to the 
United States from Valparaiso (El Mercurio, 3/4). 
 
Cuba 
---- 
¶9.  Cuba's new Ambassador to Chile, Ileana Diaz Arguelles, presented 
her credentials to President Bachelet.  Foreign Affairs Minister 
Foxley said this shows that the GOC "will work with all countries in 
the region so long as there is respect for diversity and relations 
are not stated in terms of struggle or an ideological confrontation" 
 (La Nacion, government-owned, editorially independent, circ. 4,200, 
3/4). 
 
¶10.  The international media interpreted Raul Castro's removal of 
the Ministers of Economy and Foreign Affairs as a "gesture" of 
rapprochement with the new U.S. administration.  Reportedly, Cuban 
Justice Minister Mara Ester Reus will express this willingness, by 
stating before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, that her country 
has "considerable expectations" with regard to the Obama 
administration (La Segunda, conservative, afternoon, circ. 33,000, 
3/3). 
 
Chilean Students Murdered in Florida 
------------------------------------ 
¶11.  Foreign Minister Foxley noted the cooperation of U.S. 
authorities in the repatriation of the bodies of the two Chilean 
victims.  He said the ministry will assign an attorney to oversee 
the proceedings against the murderer in the United States (La 
Nacion, 3/4). 
 
SIMONS