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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000890 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: Sept. 21 Media Report 
 
Lead Story 
 
------------- 
 
¶1.  Twenty-three people died in car accidents over the "Dieciocho" 
long holiday.  All of them were related to alcohol consumption 
(Conservative, independent,La Tercera, 9/21). 
 
 
 
Salitre Exercise 
 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  Background: At Unasur, Peru's President proposed that South 
American countries sign a "non- aggression pact."  On Thursday, 
Chilean Defense Minister Francisco Vidal said that such agreements 
are signed when there is the threat of an aggression, adding that 
the initiative reminded him of the agreement signed by Nazi Germany 
and Russia in 1939.  Peru was not happy with Vidal's remarks and 
its officials decided not to attend a tribute in Lima in honor of 
Chilean patriot Bernardo O'Higgins or a reception at the Chilean 
Ambassador's residence to celebrate Chile's Independence Day, 
triggering a new period of tension between both countries (La 
Tercera, 9/18-9/21). 
 
 
 
¶3.   Although until yesterday there was no reaction yet to Vidal's 
remarks, Peruvian Defense Minister Rafael Reyes asked Chile to 
cancel the "Salitre" air force military exercise in Antofagasta. 
"Just as we canceled a military exercise last y ear to avoid any 
misunderstanding, we would like Chile to have the same attitude," 
said Reyes (La Tercera 9/18) 
 
 
 
¶4. Peruvian Defense Minister Rafael Reyes urged Chile to cancel the 
2009 "Salitre" exercise in Antofagasta "just as Peru canceled 
several programs in Arequipa to avoid any misunderstanding."  In 
the exercise a multinational peace force formed by Chilean, U.S., 
French, Argentine, and Brazilian air force contingents confront a 
country that does not comply with international treaties 
(Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 9/21). 
 
 
 
¶5.  Foreign Minister Fernandez asked Peruvian authorities not to 
link Minister Vidal's remarks regarding Peru's proposal of a 
non-aggression pact among South American countries to the 2009 
"Salitre" exercise in northern Chile.  Peru's Defense Ministry is 
uneasy with the exercise and has urged Chile to cancel it.  Chile, 
however, has rejected the request stating that the exercise is to 
increase peace mission preparation (La Tercera, 9/18). 
 
 
 
Chile-Peru 
 
-------------- 
 
¶6.   Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said yesterday that 
the government "values" President Alan Garcia's initiative to make 
military issues transparent, but does not agree with his proposal 
regarding a non-aggression agreement, because it reflects a kind of 
language used by totalitarian regimes (La Tercera, 9/18). 
 
 
 
¶7.  In spite of the tension created by Minister Vidal's opposition 
to Peru's proposal for a non-aggression pact, Peruvian Ambassador 
Carlos Pareja attended Chile's annual Military Parade on Saturday. 
The GOC saw this as an effort to lower tension between the two 
countries (El Mercurio, 9/20). 
 
¶8.  Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said he accepted "in 
good faith" the explanation given by Peruvian Ambassador Carlos 
Pareja on the absence of Peruvian officials at a tribute in Lima 
for Chilean patriot Bernardo O'Higgins.  Pareja said it had been "a 
mistake."  In Chile, the Foreign Ministry is annoyed with Minister 
Vidal's role in the recent conflict with Peru (La Tercera, 9/20). 
 
 
 
¶9.  Foreign Minister Fernandez believes that Peruvian President 
Alan Garcia "is mistaken in the language he used, because non 
aggression agreements are signed when countries are on the verge of 
war, when we are not even close to that."  Fernandez added that 
Chile "clearly understands" that the proposal is intended for South 
America as a whole and not just Chile and Peru (Government-owned La 
Nacion, 9/19-09/26). 
 
 
 
U.S.-Related News 
 
----------------------- 
 
¶10.  In an interview, SOUTHCOM Brigadier General David C. Garza 
explained that the agreement with Colombia gives the United States 
access to seven bases and is an extension of previous agreements. 
He said this would allow the United States to continue supporting 
Colombia on its fight against narcotics and weapons trafficking and 
narco-terrorism.  "We have no intention to set up bases in 
Colombia," said Garza, underscoring that the agreement limits the 
number of military and contract personnel. "We have nothing to hide 
with this agreement," he said, adding that he believes the region's 
concern is the result of lack of information. Garza was asked if 
the United States is concerned about Hugo Chavez.  "We have over 40 
years of good friendship with Venezuela.... We respect the 
sovereign rights of nations and decision to modernize their 
military systems," he said (La Tercera 9/18). 
 
 
 
¶11.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote President Bachelet a 
letter congratulating her on a new Independence Day. In her letter, 
the secretary praised the "strong and deep bilateral ties" and said 
this is "an opportunity to celebrate Chile's strong democracy" (La 
Tercera, 9/19). 
 
 
 
¶12.  Secretary Clinton's letter congratulating Chile on its 
Independence Day was well taken by the Executive Office and Foreign 
Ministry (Government-owned La Naci????n, 9/18) 
 
 
 
¶13.  Secretary Clinton joined Chile on its patriotic celebration by 
dedicating a few lines to all Chileans:   "On behalf of the people 
of the United States I would like to express my sincere 
congratulations to the people of Chile on its 199 years of 
independence" (High-circulation popular daily Las Ultimas Noticias 
9/20). 
 
 
 
¶14.  In New York, President Bachelet will attend a dinner hosted by 
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.  President Obama will also 
attend. Earlier that same day, Bachelet and Obama will also be 
among the speakers at the annual session of the Clinton Global 
Initiative. On Tuesday, Bachelet and Secretary Clinton will attend 
the launching of the Inter-American Social Protection Network and 
on Wednesday Bachelet will speak before the Council of the Americas 
(El Mercurio, 9/19). 
 
 
 
Chile/Peru Maritime Claim 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶15.  Chile has until March 2010, to counter the maritime border 
claim filed by Peru with the International Court of The Hague. 
Chile's strategy will be to show that since 2005, Peru has changed 
its laws to support its border claim: In 2005, it passed a law that 
unilaterally set new points of reference along the coast to place 
the sea that is currently under Chilean jurisdiction --in 
accordance to treaties --, under Peru's jurisdiction;  In August 
2007, Peru's new official cartography shows that the sea under 
Chilean jurisdiction "is an area in dispute;"  In January 2008, a 
new bill unilaterally assigns the "Punto de Concordia" as the point 
of reference to set the land border between the two countries.  The 
treaties in effect between the two countries set the border using 
the "Landmark 1" point (El Mercurio, 9/18) 
 
 
 
Survey 
 
--------- 
 
¶16.  El Mercurio/Opina conducted a survey in March 2006, which 
showed that only 28 percent thought that Bachelet would do a better 
job than her predecessor Ricardo Lagos. They have now repeated the 
poll and figures show that 71.3 percent believe she has outdone 
Lagos (El Mercurio, 9/20). 
 
 
 
Honduras 
 
----------- 
 
¶17.  Chilean Foreign Minister Fernandez was asked on whether the 
United States has true political will to resolve the situation in 
Honduras. "The United States has labeled this a coup d'????tat, which 
is a very specific term, and is cutting off significant aid .... 
Don't read between the lines when things are very clear.  The 
United States has closed its visa office in Tegucigalpa, which 
means that Hondurans cannot travel to the United States where there 
are two million Honduran immigrants.  What stronger sanction can 
there be? The United States is being extremely rigorous with OAS 
decisions.  I find this noteworthy, because the OAS front has not 
moved back an inch" (La Nacion, 9/20-9/26). 
URBAN