VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0374/01 1102214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 202214Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4817
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3931
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2395
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1450
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0864
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2058
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6140
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4363
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2319
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000374 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT - POSITIVE COVERAGE OF SUMMIT OF THE 
AMERICAS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Chilean dailies gave front-page coverage to the 
interaction between Presidents Obama and Bachelet at the Summit of 
the Americas in Trinidad.  Commentary about U.S. policy toward Cuba 
and Venezuela also figured prominently, including the photograph of 
President Obama extending his hand to Hugo Chavez.  End Summary. 
 
Bachelet and Obama at the SOA 
----------------------------- 
¶2.  As Presidents Obama and Bachelet waited to enter the official 
reception, the U.S. President approached Bachelet.  He told her that 
Vice President Joe Biden was "'very impressed' with his visit to 
Chile and recognized Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Fernandez. 
Reportedly Obama said to Fernandez, "I truly admire your President" 
(El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 
129,000, 4/18). 
¶3.  Photograph of President Obama greeting Bachelet at the Summit: 
the bilateral meeting between Presidents Obama and Bachelet was set 
for June, said a Chilean delegate to the summit, who added that the 
U.S. President and Bachelet have encountered each other four times 
at the Summit (La Tercera, conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 
4/20). 
 
¶4.  Photograph of Presidents Bachelet and Obama sitting next to each 
other at the UNASUR meeting:  Several gestures marked the first 
encounter between the two presidents at the Summit.  On Friday, the 
U.S. President approached Bachelet and spoke to her briefly about 
Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Chile.  Yesterday, at the 
UNASUR, both spoke briefly again (La Tercera, 4/19). 
 
¶5.   The one element that has made this a historical Summit was the 
many gestures of rapprochement: greetings, presents, and remarks on 
almost every topic that is of interest to the region relegated the 
written declaration to second place.  Obama made a last gesture 
right before going back to Washington.  He admitted that the 
half-century U.S. policy on Cuba had simply "not worked."  He also 
demanded "deeds and not words," from the region, especially from 
Cuba and Venezuela.  Obama also said it was 'interesting' to learn 
about the thousands of Cuban physicians working in other countries 
in the region, stating that this could be more effective than 
military might to gain influence in the region (La Nacion, 
government-owned, editorially independent, circ. 4,200, 4/20). 
 
¶6.  Captioned photograph of the Chilean President and Obama: 
"Bachelet's Charisma Touches Obama."  Subheadline: "I truly admire 
your President," Obama told Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez (Las 
Ultimas Noticias, leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000, 
4/19). 
 
¶7.  Quotes:  "We had not attended a Summit that had this level of 
candidness or cordiality" (Mexican President Felipe Calderon); 
"There is a totally different attitude on the part of Obama, of more 
openness, more dialogue, and more respect.  The prospects are good" 
(Manuel Zelaya, President of Honduras (La Nacion, 4/20). 
 
¶8.  The leaders at the Summit were "'enchanted" with the new White 
House occupant.  Even the controversy over the final declaration -- 
highly criticized by Hugo Chavez and his allies -- practically 
disappeared.  Manuel Zelaya, President of Honduras and an ally of 
Venezuela, said, "Obama won Latin America's interest."  Chavez said 
that the Summit had been a victory for his government's ideals, 
adding that Obama is making a "turn" in its bilateral relation (La 
Tercera, 4/20). 
 
¶9.  Captioned photograph of Obama and Bachelet:  "President Obama 
polite and close to the (Chilean) President at the gala dinner, 
where both sat next to each other (El Mercurio, 4/19). 
 
¶10.   The Chilean President and Obama concurred at the Summit on 
promoting energy.  Photograph of the two sitting next to each at the 
UNASUR meeting.  The two had already spoken on Friday, when the U.S. 
President approached Bachelet and briefly spoke to her about Joe 
Biden's visit to Chile in late march.  At UNASUR, both had more 
official dialogue, whereby Bachelet thanked Obama for validating the 
new continental organization as a regional interlocutor (La Tercera, 
4/19). 
 
¶11.  In their first meeting, UNASUR and the U.S. President discussed 
 
an agenda that did not exclude any topic.  Obama urged nations to 
look to the future.  Bachelet said that at the meeting there was a 
"reiteration of the commitment to set a new relationship between the 
United States and America, especially with South America, as 
partners, and with mutual respect" (El Mercurio, 4/19). 
 
¶12.  At the Summit, Chilean Minister of Energy Marcelo Tokman and 
his U.S. counterpart, Secretary Stephen Chu, sealed an agreement for 
the creation of a center to develop renewable energy, solar energy, 
and biofuels (La Tercera, 4/19 and 4/20, La Nacions, 4/20). 
 
Commentaries and Editorials 
--------------------------- 
¶13.  Column by journalist Raul Sohr:  "There is today a new 
generation of Cubans in the United States; Fidel Castro no longer 
rules; the embargo does not have a useful purpose in changing 
Havana's behavior; the Cold War has been over for a long time. 
There are no true realistic political reasons to keep Cuba outside 
the brotherhood of nations to which it belongs" (La Nacion, 4/19). 
 
¶14.  Column by Alvaro Vargas Llosa: "With Sophisticated Diplomacy, 
Obama Dodges Danger" 
"Obama did well by announcing a change of policy toward Cuba before 
the Summit, cutting the wings of the sail heading strongly his way. 
He was also right in placing the ball in Castro's court, asking for 
reciprocity and reminding those at the Summit that unlike Castro, 
"we were democratically elected."  This smart move undermined the 
effort of Daniel Ortega -- the strongest Cuban supporter -- 
because no one could contradict the fact that Obama had taken the 
lead with a concrete fact and with a serious offer to dialogue.... 
Obama balanced U.S. responsibility in past events with the request 
for his opponents to shed their ideological anti-Americanism.... 
His decision to embrace the leaders of different groups rather than 
hold bilateral meetings, dissolved the strength of the Chavista bloc 
by weakening the perception that Obama meets only with Washington's 
friends and excludes the "carnivorous" left.  This was, in sum, 
highly sophisticated diplomacy" (La Tercera, 4/19). 
 
¶15.  Column by Andres Oppenheimer: "I am skeptic about the sincerity 
of Cuba's claim that it hopes to improve its relations with United 
States.  The dictatorship needs a confrontation with the United 
States to justify its absolute power and suppression of political, 
labor and civil rights....  I am not sure that the Obama 
administration has a clear strategy with regard to Cuba. White House 
officials say that 'the ball is now in Cuba's court' and that 'the 
United States formulates its policies on the basis of U.S. 
interests, and not Cuba's.  I'm confused and can bet that I am not 
the only one" (El Mercurio, 4/20). 
 
¶16.  Column by Juan Francisco Coloane:  "The new U.S. policy is at a 
crossroad.  It either maintains the doctrine of bringing about 
change in Cuba through the traditional interventionist pressure or 
contributes to rebuilding a nation on the basis of local elements 
(El Mostrador, on-line news agency, 4/20). 
 
Cuba and Venezuela 
------------------ 
¶17.  In spite of the expectations, the Summit of the American 
concluded with a conventional declaration about the fight against 
crime and respect for immigrants.  However, there was unprecedented 
diplomatic progress at the Summit, especially between the United 
States, Cuba, and Venezuela.  After the Summit, Obama said that he 
had seen "potentially positive" signs at the Summit for relations 
with Cuba and Venezuela, but reiterated that "words must be followed 
by deeds," on the part of Havana and Caracas (El Mercurio, 4/20). 
 
¶18.  Headline:  "United States says the embargo on Cuba has failed 
and announced a 'new beginning' with the island at the Summit of the 
Americas."  Captioned Photo of Obama and Chavez shaking hands:  "I 
want to be your friend." 
 The United States wants a new beginning with Cuba and made the most 
significant offer for dialogue since the 1962 break-up, with 
proposals that range from democratic reforms to human rights.  With 
this, Obama recognized that the embargo has not worked and that it 
is necessary to change that policy, urging other countries to change 
too and look to the future (El Mercurio, 4/18). 
 
¶19.  Unexpected announcement, Hugo Chavez unexpectedly announced he 
 
had appointed Venezuela's representative to the OAS, Roy Chaderton 
as the new Ambassador to Washington.  This could be a step to repair 
the damaged ties with the United States (El Mercurio, 4/19) 
 
¶20.  It was one of the most anticipated moments of the Summit:  The 
greeting between Presidents Obama and Hugo Chavez, after seven years 
during which the Venezuelan has confronted Washington.  And it 
happened after Obama crossed the room to shake hands with Chavez. 
Obama did the same with the leaders of the two other countries that 
have tens ties with United States:  Bolivian Evo Morales and 
Nicaraguan Daniel Ortega (La Tecera, 4/18). 
 
¶21.  Chavez takes a step forward to repair relations with the United 
States and appoints Ambassador to Washington.  "I brought you a 
present," said Hugo Chavez to Obama before the UNASUR meeting, 
handing him the book, "Open Veins to Latin America," by Eduardo 
Galeano.  The U.S. President received it with a smile.  Both Chavez 
and Obama have taken steps to repair the damaged relation between 
both countries.  Chavez went even further and informed Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton the appointment of an Ambassador to Washington 
(La Tercera, 4/19). 
 
¶22.  President Hugo Chavez appointed his representative to the OAS, 
Rody Chaderton as the next Ambassador to Washingotn, in what could 
be a step to normalize relations between the two countries (El 
Mercurio, 4/19). 
 
¶23.  "Chavez to the U.S. President:  "I want to be your friend," 
Chavez said to Obama, after the latter crossed the room to introduce 
himself and shake his hand.  "I could not refuse such a refined 
gesture," said Chavez (El Mercurio, 4/18). 
SIMONS