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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL PGOV SNAR CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- June 24 
 
Leading Stories 
------------------- 
¶1. All dailies highlighted the first official visit to the United 
States by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and focused on her 
meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office.  Also widely 
reported were stories on the dramatic increase in the number of 
patients with respiratory diseases, including AH1N1 flu, which has 
placed unprecedented demands on hospitals and clinics in Chile. 
 
Obama-Bachelet 
-------------- 
¶2.  All dailies ran front-page photographs of Presidents Obama and 
Bachelet at their joint press conference, highlighting that the U.S. 
President congratulated his Chilean counterpart on Chile4s sound 
economic policies, and praised her as "one of the most compelling 
leaders that we have, not just in the hemisphere but around the 
world."  Dailies emphasized incidental aspects of the bilateral 
meeting at the White House, such as Obama's relaxed manner, his 
"unprecedented" decision to take a question from a Chilean 
journalist, and his willingness to pose with the Chilean press in 
the Rose Garden. 
 
¶3.  Headline: "Obama praises Chile's economic management of the 
financial crisis" 
Sub-headlines: The U.S. President praised Chile's policy to save the 
surplus from copper: "It's a good lesson for the United States. We 
squandered the surplus we had;" "President Obama is an idol for 
Chileans," said Bachelet, as the U.S. President said he would do 
everything possible to travel soon to Chile, before March 11, 2010." 
 (El Mercurio, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, 6/24) 
 
¶4.  One captioned photograph quotes President Obama: "If we look at 
how Chile has managed the recession, we can see it has done very 
well, in part because it saved the copper surplus."  Another 
captioned photograph says, "The bilateral meeting was marked by 
praises."   The article then outlines the order of events starting 
with Bachelet's arrival at the White House at 2:07 pm and the 
private 30-minute bilateral meeting, which was followed by an 
extended meeting with Bachelet's ministers of Finance, Energy and 
Foreign Affairs, and their U.S. counterparts.  Both presidents then 
held a press conference, at which Bachelet said that "President 
Obama is an idol for Chileans." The U.S. President said he would 
make an exception and agreed to answer a question from a journalist 
on behalf of the Chilean press, as the security people began to lose 
patience and the international press corps watched perplexed.  Today 
Bachelet will meet in private with Vice President Joe Biden and 
attend a Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) conference on human 
influenza, a topic that she and President Obama also discussed." 
Front-page photo of both presidents (El Mercurio, 6/24) 
 
¶5.  Headline: "In a relaxed meeting, Obama praises Bachelet and 
promises to visit Chile." After the 35-minute private meeting, 
President Obama congratulated the Chilean authorities for their 
sound economic policies, which have enabled it to confront the 
financial crisis.  The two presidents discussed the situation in the 
region, cooperation in the energy sector, and spent more time on the 
AH1N1." (La Tercera, conservative daily, 6/24) 
 
¶6.  Headline: "Bachelet and Obama in total Synchrony." Sub-headline: 
 "U.S. President cites Chile4s economic policies and leadership." 
"The good political, diplomatic and even personal relationship 
between the two presidents was definitely sealed.  Two elements that 
appear to have contributed to this are Bachelet's leadership and the 
respect she enjoys in the Hemisphere, and the willingness of the 
White House to take a positive turn in its ties with the region.  It 
is no minor issue that the Oval Office discussion centered on 
building bridges and triangular relations in Latin America and the 
Caribbean, where Chile can play a constructive long-term role." 
Front-page photograph of both presidents.  (La Nacion, 
government-owned, editorially independent, 6/24) 
 
¶7. "The meeting between the two presidents was anything but 
conventional.  Bachelet arrived at the White House confident that 
the bilateral meeting would yield positive results, because just a 
few hours earlier Obama had praised her as "one of the finest 
leaders in Latin America." (La Nacion, 6/24) 
 
¶8.  At the press conference, Bachelet confirmed that Obama said he 
would do "everything possible to travel to the region, hopefully 
before the end of her term in office, which is March 2010." (La 
Nacion, 6/24) 
 
¶9.  "In the South American context, where three ideological branches 
coexist -- progressive, extreme left and right - Obama and Bachelet 
called for ties of respect among neighbors." (La Nacion, 6/24) 
 
¶10.  Headline: "A hand for Brazil and Lula."  Obama said that not 
sharing many of Bachelet's or Lula's policies does not prevent the 
three countries from having "a good working relationship to pave the 
way for the region."  Bachelet said that she and Obama had agreed to 
continue working in "triangular relationships with other countries, 
in the understanding that Latin America's problems are mainly the 
result of poverty, health, and development problems."  Bachelet 
said, "It has been a very good meeting and we will continue giving 
our support as a bridge for those countries that need support in an 
array of areas." (La Nacion, 6/24) 
 
¶11.  Chilean Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman and his U.S. 
counterpart, Stephen Chu, signed a memorandum for cooperation on 
non-conventional renewable energy.  The agreement shows the 
importance that both governments attach to energy efficiency and 
renewable energy. (La Nacion; El Mercurio, conservative, influential 
newspaper-of-record, 6/24) 
 
¶12.  There was nothing but praise in the White House.  President 
Obama labeled Bachelet "one of the most interesting leaders in the 
hemisphere and the world" and congratulated her and her team for 
their sound economic management.  The meeting between the two 
presidents was relaxed.  This was evident in the press conference, 
where Obama made an exception and took a question from a Chilean 
journalist, then posed for a photograph in the Rose Garden with the 
Chilean press. (Diario Financiero, business and financial daily, 
6/24) 
 
¶13.  Mutual praise and an open dialogue marked the bilateral meeting 
of Presidents Obama and Bachelet.  "The relationship we have with 
Chile, with which, by the way, we do not concur on all foreign 
policy issues - is one of respect.  That is the model we want: A 
partnership, where the United States does not tell Chile how to 
defend its own interests," said Obama. (Estrategia, business and 
financial daily, 6/24) 
 
¶14.  Headline:  "Obama steps out of protocol and creates disorder in 
the White House."  Impressive.  The most powerful and charismatic 
world leader agreed to pose with the Chilean press in the Rose 
Garden, as if this were a special occasion for Facebook.  And as 
they posed, the U.S. President even announced a possible visit to 
Santiago.  The U.S. press believes this could take place in October 
(Las Ultimas Noticias, leading-circulation popular daily, 6/24) 
 
¶15.  Making an exception, President Obama took a question from 
journalist Amaro Gomez-Pablos, who asked about the CIA's role in the 
coup that ousted [President Salvador] Allende in 1973.  "I'm 
interested in looking forward, not backwards. The United States has 
been an enormous force for the good of the world, although we 
sometimes have made mistakes," responded Obama.  (Las Ultimas 
Noticas, 6/24) 
 
¶16.  After the working meeting with President Obama, Bachelet said: 
"We have reaffirmed the enormous amount of values and principles 
that we share (...) We have seen with much happiness the importance 
that President Obama gives to the region, and especially to Chile, 
which he sees as a country that has done things well (...) We 
understand the way in which you [President Obama] are exerting your 
leadership.  It is something that inspires us and makes us feel 
confident and comfortable."  (Government of Chile webpage, 6/24) 
 
Other Bilateral 
--------------- 
¶17.  The Independents Network is sponsoring a seminar at the 
University of Chile Government and Public Management School, offered 
by Sam Rodriguez, a political marketing expert in President Obama4s 
presidential campaign. Chilean presidential candidates from all 
parties will attend. (El Mercurio, 6/24) 
 
Military 
-------- 
¶18.  The U.S., UK, Brazilian, French, and Chilean Navies will begin 
their participation in the Teamwork South 2009 exercises off the 
northern coast of Chile. (La Nacion, 6/24) 
 
WEITZENKORN