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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTIAGO 000435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019 
TAGS: PREL XM XL XS CI
SUBJECT: CHILE GIVES THUMBS UP TO OBAMA'S SUMMIT MEETING 
WITH UNASUR LEADERS 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Jennifer Spande for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Top MFA officials described the Summit of 
the Americas as a success notable for its positive atmosphere 
and frank exchange of views, and were relieved that their 
fears of possible outbursts by Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, or 
others never came to pass.  Even these polemical presidents 
were on good behavior during President Obama's meeting with 
UNASUR heads of state.  While nearly all speakers at the 
UNASUR meeting raised U.S. policy towards Cuba, and Chavez 
and Morales criticized the U.S., everyone interacted 
respectfully and seemed pleased to have the opportunity to 
meet with President Obama.  President Bachelet's 
conversations with President Obama over dinner and with two 
Codels were also quite positive, leading Flisfisch to assess 
that, in general, Chile's relations with both the U.S. 
executive branch and the legislature are "very, very 
positive."  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Charge Urban, accompanied by E/Pol Chief and Poloff, 
met April 29 with Ambassador Angel Flisfisch, Director of the 
MFA's Planning Division, to get Flisfisch's readout on the 
Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad and Tobago April 
17-19.  Flisfisch was accompanied by MFA North American 
Affairs Director Isauro Torres; Patricio Powell, the Chief of 
OAS/Hemispheric Affairs; and Patricio Rojas, the Chief of 
Staff for MFA Foreign Policy Director General Juan Pablo 
Lira.  Flisfisch attended President Obama's meeting with 
UNASUR nations and Torres and Powell attended portions of the 
plenary sessions. 
 
Summit a Success 
---------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Flisfisch summarized his assessment by saying that 
the Summit was a success, with the most critical achievements 
being the simple fact of gathering the hemisphere's leaders 
together; the positive atmosphere that pervaded the Summit; 
and the frankness with which leaders spoke.  In the end, the 
failure to reach consensus over a summit declaration did not 
matter, he said, noting that biofuels was the main point of 
contention.  In an apparent reference to hopes for dramatic 
changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba, Flisfisch noted that all 
the heads of state present had a sophisticated political 
understanding of U.S. domestic constraints, recognizing that 
the pending issues are "very complicated" and "it takes two 
to tango."  However, there will be a vigorous push to get 
Cuba admitted to the OAS in time for the next general 
assembly, he warned. 
 
UNASUR Meeting with President Obama 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Flisfisch reported that, overall, the UNASUR 
meeting with President Obama had gone quite well, with fears 
about the behavior of some of the region's more polemic 
personalities unrealized.  President Bachelet opened the 
session with a short speech describing UNASUR's structure, 
including the defense, health, and energy councils; and 
explaining that the organization, which represents a diverse 
group of governments and countries, seeks to respect each 
others' perspectives and find common ground.  She signaled 
that reducing tension in Bolivia following the Pando killings 
was one of the group's key achievements during its first 
year.  President Obama followed President Bachelet, with 
remarks echoing the themes of hope and moving forward that 
had been the hallmarks of his speech to the plenary session. 
His remarks were "exactly what everyone wanted to hear," 
Flisfisch commented. 
 
¶5.  (C) Flisfisch summarized key leaders' remarks as follows: 
 
--Bolivian President Evo Morales, the first UNASUR head of 
state to speak, talked about the alleged role of recently 
expelled DEA agents and Ambassador Goldberg in Bolivia. 
Morales was respectful and civilized -- but still frank -- in 
his delivery and other interactions during the session. 
Other than the DEA reference, he did not make many direct 
references to the U.S., but did say that each of Obama's 
statements about the region was helping to build better 
relations. 
 
--Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez alleged U.S. involvement 
in the 2002 attempted coup against him, and highlighted a 
history of failed U.S. policies towards Cuba.  "History is 
history, you can't deny it," Chavez told the group.  Chavez 
welcomed President Obama's positive and different approach, 
but warned against the actions of lower-level U.S. officials. 
 
--Colombian President Alvaro Uribe delivered what Flisfisch 
 
SANTIAGO 00000435  002 OF 003 
 
 
described as a "very conventional" speech, emphasizing his 
concern about narcotrafficking and signaling his commitment 
to partnership with the U.S. 
 
--President Rafael Correa of Ecuador echoed many of Chavez's 
remarks, including the need to own up to difficult historical 
moments, but added that he was very happy that Obama had 
traveled to the region to meet with Latin American leaders. 
 
--Brazilian President Lula da Silva's short statement focused 
on his belief that a president can make a real difference in 
shaping his country's foreign policy ("It's not just Pepsi 
vs. Coke") and how the world perceives his country.  It was 
"refreshing" to have Obama as the new U.S. president, and 
should open up new opportunities to build relationships.  On 
the other hand, four years is not a very long time, and Obama 
will have to move quickly to have an impact.  Flisfisch 
described Lula's presentation as similar to a professor 
before his pupils. 
 
--President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina 
synthesized others' remarks, agreeing that presidents can 
make a difference, such as President Carter did during 
Argentina's transition to democracy. 
 
¶6.  (C) Flisfisch also noted that nearly all the leaders 
mentioned Cuba in their speeches.  He said that leaders' 
expectations of possible changes to U.S. policy towards Cuba 
had shifted substantially in the weeks leading up to the 
election.  Heads of state had adopted a more pragmatic 
outlook, and recognized the domestic political resonance of 
Cuba policy in the U.S.  The topic was discussed by 
Chavez-oriented leaders at the Bolivarian Alternative for the 
Americas (ALBA) Summit held in advance of the Summit of the 
Americas.  Obama's announced changes to Cuba policy were 
well-received at the Summit of the Americas, although the 
leaders had still hoped for more dramatic changes, including 
an end to the embargo and the inclusion of Cuba in the OAS. 
 
Getting Along Famously:  Bachelet and Obama at Dinner, 
Bachelet with Codels 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Presidents Obama and Bachelet were seated next to 
each other at dinner, and the two had an extended and cordial 
conversation, Flishfisch reported.  They talked at length 
about Chavez and expressed relief that he hadn't generated 
friction during the meetings.  Obama praised Chile for its 
clear ability to "dialogue with the whole world" (in 
Flisfisch's words).  Bachelet spoke of the vision that Chile 
and the U.S. share and her confidence in Obama's leadership. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) President Bachelet had very positive meetings with 
both Codel Engel and Codel Baucus, Flisfisch offered. 
Representative Engel expressed his admiration for Bachelet 
and said that he had told his congressional colleagues about 
Chile's unique partnership with California and its ambitious 
program to provide scholarships for overseas study.  With 
Codel Baucus, the Chilean president discussed the success of 
the Summit, peacekeeping cooperation in Haiti, and the 
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.  Bachelet and 
Senator Baucus had "good chemistry," Flisfisch noted. 
 
¶9.  (C) Meanwhile, Secretary Clinton and Chilean Foreign 
Minister Fernandez spoke at length during the summit, 
establishing what Flisfisch described as "good personal 
relations" and discussing a potential Bachelet trip to the 
U.S.  Bachelet is likely to seek meetings with members of 
Congress and the National Security Council during her 
proposed trip to Washington.  Flisfisch also revealed that 
Bachelet's conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen 
Harper focused on their positive assessments of President 
Obama.  Flisfisch summarized the bilateral relationship 
post-Summit by saying that all of Chile's relations with the 
U.S. -- both with members of Congress and with the Executive 
Branch -- are "very, very positive." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10.  (C) Flisfisch was obviously pleased -- and relieved -- 
that the Summit had been so successful and that Chavez and 
other potential loose cannons had been on good behavior. 
Bachelet and many other leaders in the region strongly favor 
enhanced U.S. and multilateral relations with Cuba.  Given 
this, it is noteworthy that Chile and other countries were so 
pleased with the Summit despite their perception that the 
recent changes in U.S. policy toward the island are limited 
in scope.  Their satisfaction likely stems from their overall 
very positive assessment of President Obama, their 
understanding that Cuba is a highly complex political issue 
 
SANTIAGO 00000435  003 OF 003 
 
 
in the U.S., and their knowledge that any major change in 
Cuba policy would need congressional approval. 
SIMONS