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TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL PGOV SNAR CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- June 22 
 
Leading Stories 
--------------- 
¶1.  The media highlighted President Michelle Bachelet plan to call 
for an early retirement of Investigative Police Director Arturo 
Herrera as a result of his undistinguished performance in removing 
high-ranking officials involved in a prostitution ring.  Newspapers 
also noted the Chamber of Deputies will tighten procedures and 
accountability instruments in response to the case of a legislator 
who admitted mishandling funds assigned for office-space rental. 
 
U.S.-Related News 
----------------- 
¶2.  Article described Chile's nuclear energy agenda, claiming a 
likely coincidence with the U.S. "strategy" on the nuclear issue. 
The piece noted that Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman "will attend the 
historic (presidential) visit to the White House (June 23), where he 
will sign a cooperation agreement on Non-Conventional Renewable 
Energies (NCRE)."  The article indicated that "last February, 
Minister Tokman met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in a 
very productive meeting where they agreed to strengthen bilateral 
ties on energy matters."  In an interview with El Mostrador online 
daily, "U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons noted that Chile is an 
important partner for the United States due to its unique solar 
energy resources.  Chile also has remarkable geothermal 
capabilities, ocean wave and wind energy, and a large quantity of 
natural resources," he said.  The agreement with the United States 
at this time will only be focused on Non-Conventional Renewable 
Energy.  Ambassador Simons commented that nuclear energy may become 
a part of the agenda in the future, "should the Government of Chile 
decide it needs collaboration in that area.  The United States has 
considerable experience, where almost 20 percent of its power is 
nuclear.  We have already exchanged information.  But meanwhile, the 
agreement is focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency" (El 
Mostrador, online, liberal, 6/22). 
 
¶3.  As of 8 p.m. tonight President Michelle Bachelet and her 
delegation will depart on a short visit to the United States and 
Mexico.  She is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama in the 
Oval Office, Tuesday, June 23, at 2 p.m. (El Mercurio, conservative, 
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 6/22). 
 
¶4.  Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez characterized President 
Michelle Bachelet's official visit to the United States as her most 
important tour of the year.  During her trip, President Bachelet 
will convey to U.S. officials Chile's apprehensions over the 
forestry subsidies that benefit U.S. cellulose producers, which are 
harming the local forestry industry (Diario Financiero, business and 
financial, circ. 30,000, 6/22). 
 
¶5.  Story on Mapuche leader Hector Llaitul's "unknown" conference to 
recruit youths, last November 10, in Temuco.  Llaitul, currently a 
fugitive, is the military leader of the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco 
(CAM) indigenous subversive group.  In his speech, Llaitul summoned 
an audience of approximately 50 students to join "the fight."  In 
its latest Country Reports on Terrorism, the Department of State 
stated that the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco has shown increased 
planning and a more professional use of weapons and tactics.  The 
report even said that the Embassy in Santiago is monitoring the 
actions carried out by CAM in Chile. Nevertheless, the Chilean 
Government downplayed the report and ruled out the reorganization of 
the radicalized group (El Mercurio, 6/21). 
 
¶6.  Article compared the U.S. and French "cultural models," noting 
they are radically different but equally successful.  While the 
Ministry of Culture in France celebrates in July its fiftieth 
anniversary, the United States has never had a government agency 
dedicated to the issue.  Nevertheless, First Lady Michelle Obama is 
already being called "Minister" of the subject due to the important 
role that she is assuming.  In the United States, private donations 
are essential.  Counselor for Public Affairs Laurie B. Weitzenkorn 
highlighted the Obama Administration's US$50 million stimulus 
package, which was provided to the National Endowment for the Arts. 
Cultural Affairs Attach Michael D. Orlansky highlighted that 10 
percent of funding in the United States comes from the public 
sector, while 90 percent is supplied by the private sector." (El 
Mercurio, 6/21) 
 
¶7.  Editorial: "Free Market and Ways to Solve the Crisis" "President 
Barack Obama recently announced measures to increase the regulations 
on market and financial institutions, and stronger protections for 
consumers and investors.  Some legislators have questioned several 
aspects of his proposal....  Nevertheless, beyond the specifics, the 
most notable fact is that it does not propose in depth reforms to 
the ongoing economic model.... The plan seeks to improve regulations 
while respecting and encouraging the fundamentals of market freedom; 
President Obama and the European leaders are paving the way to a 
speedier recovery" (La Tercera, 6/22). 
 
Chile-Nuclear Energy 
------------------- 
¶8.  Minister of Energy Marcelo Tokman stated that by December 2010 
the Government will be in condition to determine whether it will 
incorporate nuclear energy in its power matrix.  It is estimated 
that by that date, the next administration will have the necessary 
data to make a decision.  In the next three months, the Government 
expects to open the bidding process for three other studies on 
nuclear energy, which will address the legal framework, 
environmental risks, and power regulations (La Tercera, 
conservative, independent daily, circ. 101,000, 9/20). 
 
Chile-OAS 
--------- 
¶9.  Interview with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza on 
local politics and the results of last week's CEP opinion poll. 
With regard to his plans to run for a second term as chief of the 
regional organization, Insulza responded: "We have spoken with 
(Chile's) Foreign Minister and it is in my plans" (El Mercurio, 
6/20). 
 
Peru-Bolivia 
------------ 
¶10.  Opinion piece by former Chilean Foreign Minister Hernan Felipe 
Errazuriz entitled "Alan and Evo:  Maximum Tension"  "Animosity 
between Peru and Bolivia continues to escalate....  It is worrisome 
that (Chilean) officials claim that we have the best relations in 
history with Bolivia while they are tense with Peru....  We are 
interested in both Peru and Bolivia being successful. Unfortunately 
this is not happening....  (El Mercurio, 6/20). 
 
Iran 
---- 
¶11.  Column by international pundit Libardo Buitrago, headlined 
"Iran:  The Streets' Uproar"  "Depending on how the Ayatollahs 
manage (the current situation) they will find out whether the 
Islamic Revolution is the target of the protests.  By using rifle 
butts, bullets, and restrictions as means to stop the protests, they 
are only increasing them.  They have chosen this path, the most 
risky one" (Diario Financiero, 6/22). 
SIMONS