VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0493/01 1462005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 262005Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4980
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1504
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6194
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY BRASILIA 0918
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4415
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3985
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2107
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2384

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000493 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND WHA/EPSC 
STATE FOR OES/ENV AND OES/FO 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SENV PREL CI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S OUTREACH IN PUNTA ARENAS AND TORRES DEL PAINE 
EMPHASIZES ENVIRONMENTAL COLLABORATION 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  The Ambassador visited Punta Arenas and Torres del 
Paine National Park, May 12-13, to celebrate the Park's 50th 
anniversary and to give a speech about the first 100 days of the 
Obama administration at the University of Magallanes (UMAG).  In 
Punta Arenas, the Ambassador also stopped at Chile's Antarctic 
Institute to discuss the Institute's research efforts and plans to 
increase environmental education and establish an Antarctic museum. 
With the new mayor of Punta Arenas, the Ambassador reviewed several 
health and education challenges in the city.  The Ambassador also 
held a press conference at the American Corner at UMAG to highlight 
on-going U.S.-Chile collaboration.  The visit received notable press 
coverage.  End summary. 
 
Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Punta Arenas is the most prominent settlement on the Straits 
of Magellan and the capital of the XII Region, which encompasses 
Magallanes and Chile's Antarctic territory.  With a population of 
about 120,000, the port city of Punta Arenas is the third largest 
city in Patagonia and one of Chile's two tax-free zones (the other 
is the northern port of Iquique).  The region's economy depends 
mainly on exploration and exploitation activities related to oil 
(petroleum), gas and coal production.  Cattle and sheep farming, 
wool, fishing and tourism are also important economic activities. 
 
¶3.  (U) Torres del Paine, situated in the far south, is one of the 
Chile's most famous national parks.  It lies about 300 km north of 
Punta Arenas, in a transition area between the Magellanic sub-polar 
forests and the Patagonian steppes.  The Cordillera del Paine is the 
centerpiece of the park, which also encompasses mountains, glaciers, 
lakes, and rivers.  Torres del Paine enjoys a Sister Park 
relationship with Yosemite National Park. 
 
Chile's Antarctic Institute:  Looking to Expand Activities 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4.  (U) The Ambassador, accompanied by Post's ESTH officer and 
Economic Specialist, met with the Deputy Director of Chile's 
Antarctic Institute (Instituto Antartico Chileno - INACH) Paulina 
Julio, as well as INACH's Head of Communications and Education 
Department, Elas Barticevic; Head of the Project Administration 
Department, Dr. Javier Arata; Project Administration Department, 
Environmental Division Researcher, Veronica Vallejos; and 
Oceanographer Stephen Kraus. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The INACH team was eager to discuss the Institute's 
on-going research efforts and praised recent visits from Post's 
public affairs environmental specialist and NASA.  NASA plans to 
launch flights to measure glacial ice from Punta Arenas late in 2009 
and has invited INACH to participate.  Several researches lamented 
the lack of English capability among researchers and noted several 
as-yet-to-be-developed plans for creating a research institute to 
improve collaboration among Antarctic researchers in English and 
Spanish.  Barticevic emphasized the need to increase environmental 
education and described several initiatives to engage school-age 
children.  Julio said that the Institute has procured a site for 
establishing an Antarctic museum, but that planning is still in the 
early stages. 
 
Mayor Discusses Health and Education Challenges 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Ambassador had a productive discussion with the new 
mayor of Punta Arenas, Vladimiro Mimica, an independent.  [Note: 
Mimica, a former socialist and sports commentator, was elected in 
December 2008 with the highest percentage for a mayoral candidate 
since the return of democracy.  He earned 55 percent of the vote. 
End note.]  Mimica marveled at the array of issues that he is asked 
to address as the city's mayor, notably providing adequate 
hospitals, schools, and transportation.  He added that teenage drug 
use is an area of major concern. 
 
¶7.  (U) The Ambassador also paid a courtesy call on Rear Admiral 
Philippe Ojeda, whom he has met several times, to reaffirm on-going 
Embassy-Navy cooperation. 
 
Outreach:  The First 100 Days of the Obama Administration 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶8.  (U) The Ambassador held a press conference during his visit to 
the UMAG American Corner.  He also gave a speech on campus called 
"The First 100 Days of the Obama Administration:  A New U.S. 
Commitment for the 21st Century" to more than 100 students, faculty 
and local authorities.  The Ambassador highlighted U.S. engagement 
with Latin America, particularly with Chile, which received ample 
media coverage. 
 
¶9.  (U) The Ambassador then attended a dinner hosted by UMAG Rector 
Victor Fajardo joined by Vice-Rector for Academics and Dean of 
Economic Sciences and Law Schools, Luis Poblete; Vice-Rector for 
Adminstration and Finance, Dr. Jose Maripani; Secretary General, Ana 
Mara Nazal; Director of Comunications and Outreach, Monica Buvinic; 
and American Corner Coordinator, Marilin Lobos. 
 
Torres del Paine National Park Turns 50 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) The Ambassador on May 13 participated in the ceremony 
commemorating the 50th anniversary of Torres del Paine National 
Park.  Against the stunning backdrop of Torres del Paine, the 
Executive Director of CONAF, Catalina Bau, the Intendente of 
Magallanes and Antarctica, Mario Maturana, and local historian Mateo 
Martinic all paid homage to the Park in a ceremony that celebrated 
its history, honored its directors, rangers and supporters and 
highlighted its natural beauty. 
 
¶11.  (U) The event moderators read a congratulatory letter from the 
Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary, Ambassador Reno 
Harnish.  Several of the speakers highlighted U.S.-Chile 
cooperation, and CONAF Regional Director Juan Jos Romero and 
current park Director Jose Linnebrink thanked the Ambassador 
personally after the ceremony.  After the official part of the 
ceremony, an enthusiastic crowd welcomed a performance by one of 
Chile's most beloved musical groups, los Jaivas. 
 
Positive Press Coverage on U.S.-Chile Parks Collaboration 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶12. (U) Several media agencies interviewed the Ambassador after the 
commemorative event.  He emphasized the magnificence of Torres del 
Paine and the excellent collaboration between the U.S. and Chile in 
the areas of environment, conservation and park management.  He also 
highlighted on-going U.S. engagement with Torres del Paine, 
including: the Sister Park Agreement with Yosemite (ranger 
exchanges, sharing of best practices); annual trail maintenance by 
participants in the California-based Conservation Volunteers 
International Program (Conservation VIP); and, the English for Parks 
Program, which provides English language instruction to park 
rangers. 
 
¶13. (U) Overall, the entire trip received positive coverage in the 
media.  Information, pictures and video clips (on YouTube) about the 
visit are posted on Embassy Santiago's website. 
SIMONS