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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 7 
 
Lead Story 
---------- 
¶1.  "Concertacion" presidential candidate Eduardo Frei outlined his 
political program to an exclusive group of entrepreneurs.  One of 
the issues he emphasized was the need to assure a diversified energy 
matrix that must include nuclear energy, which he said is a 
"strategic" and "national security" issue (El Mercurio, 
conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, 8/7). 
 
U.S. military presence in Colombia 
---------------------------------- 
¶2.  President Uribe's trip to the region to explain U.S. presence in 
Colombian military bases was a success.  Most of the presidents with 
whom he met concluded that the agreement falls in the area of 
Colombia's "sovereign decisions."  Brazilian president Lula da Silva 
had criticized the pact, but yesterday only expressed to Uribe his 
"concern." Colombian analyst Alfredo Rangel said that Uribe's trip 
was positive in that "it showed there is nothing to hide in the pact 
with Washington" therefore "neutralizing any suspicion." Ragel said 
that the succes of this trip, "where the majority of countries were 
respectful and understanding," is likely to result in an "acceptable 
resolution for Colombia," in the August 10 Unasur meeting (La 
Tercera, conservative, independent, 8/7). 
 
¶3.  Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva accepted 
Colombia's decision to allow the United States the use of Colombian 
military bases, as long as they are limited to Colombian territory. 
After the meeting of Presidents Lula da Silva and Uribe, Brazilian 
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said, "the agreement is a matter that 
pertains to Colombia's sovereignty if and when it is limited to 
Colombian territory."  Television network Globo (do Brazil) said 
that Lula had also asked Uribe for greater transparency in his 
negotiations with the Americans.  It seems that Lula's concern is 
that other nations will invade the Amazon to exploit Brazil's 
natural resources.  Of the countries Uribe visited, Peru was the 
most understanding and supportive of Colombia's decision. 
Argentinean President Christina Fernandez told Uribe that it was 
necessary to "lower the tone of conflict in the region," and that 
the "installation of bases did not serve that purpose." (El 
Mercurio, 8/7). 
 
¶4.  Andres Oppenheimer column, "New 'U.S. bases' in South America": 
"I was surprised when Colombian Foreign Minister (Jaime) Bermudez 
told me that Colombia and the United States were negotiating an 
agreement to increase U.S. military cooperation and that... in this 
case U.S. troops would not have their own bases.... 'These are bases 
operated by Colombians, where American personnel will have 
restricted access,' said Bermudez.... If this is true, as I suspect 
it is... Colombia has made a major mistake in how it has presented 
the whole issue. It should have labeled the agreement more 
accurately to prevent others from talking about 'U.S. bases' in 
Colombia.... Uribe should attend the meeting of South American 
nations on August 10 (Unasur).... There he could say, 'Fine, lets 
talks about all military agreements, including Venezuela's recent 
pact with Russia and Iran, or the massive presence of Cuban military 
advisors in Venezuela, or Venezuela and Ecuador's aid to the 
guerrilla in Colombia...' If South America wants a candid discussion 
on military agreement, it should focus on all the pacts that exist 
in the region, both public and secret" (El Mercurio, 8/7). 
 
¶5.  Editorial "President Uribe's diplomacy":  "The statements by 
Chile's foreign minister show that Chile will maintain its 
traditional policy of non-interference with regard to the sovereign 
agreement reached by Colombia and the United States.  This change in 
what the president (Bachelet) said in Brazil could be the result of 
appeasing information provided by Uribe about the agreement and with 
regard to the FARC's new interference and the severity of narcotics 
trafficking Mexico.... The controversy over this negotiation will 
continue... but the information that the United States and Colombia 
provide could help Unasur make a more balanced analysis of the facts 
and help dissipate mistrust" (El Mercurio, 8/7). 
 
Digital Television 
------------------ 
¶6.  The Chief of Staff of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Dilma 
Rousseff, said that in Brazil the Chilean President had informed her 
of Santiago's decision to use the Japanese ISDB adapted standard for 
digital television (Diario Financiero, business and financial, 8/7). 
 
¶7.  Editorial:  "President Obama's Six Months in Office." 
"President Obama has shown admirable political leadership and 
courage by financing a necessary reform at great risk for his 
country amid an economic crisis.... But he will have to change his 
strategy.... The President has promised the country an unreachable 
reform (greater health coverage at a lower cost) and delegated too 
much responsibility in its design....  He will have to accept a more 
active participation from others and make decision that will 
compromise his political capital that will lower his still very high 
popularity, at least in the short-term" (La Segunda, conservative, 
afternoon daily, 8/6). 
 
SIMONS