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R 081721Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0134
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000972 
 
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: Santiago Oct. 8 Media Report 
 
Lead Story 
 
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¶1.      The Distortions Committee, formed by Central Bank and 
finance, agriculture, foreign affairs, and economy ministry 
officials decreed a 15% temporary special duty on powdered milk and 
gouda cheese imports from Uruguay and Argentina (Conservative, 
independent La Tercera, 10/8). 
 
 
 
Salitre Exercise 
 
------------------ 
 
¶2.      Yesterday, at 2pm, Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose 
Garcia-Belaunde told the press in Lima that Chile had changed the 
"script" or scenario of the "Salitre" exercise. "We welcome this 
(the change) to avoid suspicions and sensitivities," said 
Garcia-Belaunde. 
 
 
 
Sources in Lima said that in a meeting of the intelligence chiefs 
of the Armed Forces of two countries yesterday in Santiago, the 
Chileans had informed their Peruvian counterparts of the change. 
The information was then relayed to Lima's ambassador in Santiago, 
Carlos Pareja, who phoned Garcia-Belaunde.  The foreign minister 
informed President Garcia, who in turn said, "This is a good 
gesture.  We must acknowledge it."  The same sources said that in a 
meeting yesterday in Santiago, Ambassador Pareja told his Chilean 
counterpart that Peru "valued Chile's decision to change" the 
hypothetical scenario of the exercise. 
 
 
 
In Lima, Garcia-Belaunde explained that the exercise would no 
longer pertain to a South American country in the north invading 
another in the south, but rather to "two countries on an island in 
conflict over more domestic issues." 
 
 
 
A statement issued yesterday late evening by the Chilean Air Force 
says it had made "strategic adjustments" to the exercise so that 
"it would not offend anyone."  The statement, however, says that 
the exercise had never considered the hypothesis of a clash with a 
neighbor country and concludes that the "essence of exercise 
remains unchanged." The Chilean Foreign Ministry has not commented 
(Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 10/8). 
 
 
 
¶3.      During a meeting of ministers in Lima, Peruvian Foreign 
Minister Jose Antonio Garcia-Belaunde received a phone call from 
his ambassador in Santiago, Carlos Pareja, to let him know that the 
Chilean Air Force had changed the "script" of the "Salitre" 
exercise.  The announcement in Peru surprised the GOC. The exercise 
featured a fictitious country threatening peace and disavowing 
international treaties, which upset Peru. Chile, on the other hand, 
stressed that the goal is to train military forces for United 
Nations peace missions and invited Peruvian observers.  Sources in 
Lima said that the change was announced during the 19th Chile-Peru 
Air Force Intelligence Conference in Santiago. (Conservative, 
independent La Tercera, 10/8). 
 
 
 
¶4.      Yesterday, Peruvian Foreign Minister Garcia-Belaunde said 
from Lima that "although the exercise is still called 'Salitre,' 
its scenario and script are totally different," because it no 
longer refers to a neighbor country, but rather to two countries on 
an island."  Yesterday in Santiago, Peruvian Ambassador Carlos 
Pareja reiterated in his meeting with Chilean Foreign Minister 
Fernandez that Peru would not send observers to the exercise.  He 
 
 
also said that the Chilean Air Force had informed him of the change 
in scenario. Neither the Chilean Defense nor Foreign Affairs 
Ministry has confirmed this (Government-owned, La Nacion, 10/8). 
 
 
 
U.S.-Related News 
 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.      The Obama family has been daring in the work they have 
chosen to decorate the White House and has chosen a collection of 
45 contemporary and modern paintings with works by Mark Rothko, 
Josef Albert, among other foreign and several Afro-American artists 
(El Mercurio, 10/8). 
 
 
 
Ximena Hartsock 
 
--------------------- 
 
¶6.         D.C.'s council members did not confirm Chilean Ximena 
Hartsock as parks and recreation director because she is a woman 
and Latino.  Hartsock explained that case is strongly tied to the 
political battle between the current mayor and council member 
Marion Berry.  Hartsock arrived to the United States in 1997, and 
earned a doctorate in administration and political science from 
George Washington University to start her career in government.  "I 
had never been discriminated for being Latino.... I've always been 
evaluated based on my qualifications," she said (La Tercera, 10/8). 
 
 
 
 
¶7.         Ximena Hartsock said she was not confirmed because of 
the racism that exists among Afro-Americans who don't accept a 
Latino in office (El Mercurio, 10/8). 
 
 
 
¶8.         "What happened to me reflects the racism that there is 
in Washington and the enormous gap among social classes," said 
Hartsock.  "I was told that I could not be in office because I am 
Latino .... They speak as if I were from the upper class, which I 
am not.... Plus there is the political rivalry. . . . The left 
follows Marion Barry, who was caught with drugs and prostitutes. 
Poor and colored people are with him and many of them prefer to 
continue living off the state than to work," said Hartsock.  She 
said she is not concerned, because her qualifications are well 
known, adding that she received a proposal to work for President 
Obama (Conservative, afternoon La Segunda, 10/7). 
 
 
 
Honduras 
 
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¶9.         Micheletti and Zelaya delegates began their talks 
yesterday with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and a 
group of foreign ministers from several Latin American countries 
(La Tercera, 10/8). 
 
 
 
Local 
 
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¶10.       The latest Adimark poll gives President Bachelet a 76% 
rate of approval.  This is three points higher than in August and a 
record for any president in Chile. Her rate of disapproval also 
fell three points and now stands at 16%.  The rate of approval for 
the government increased 7 points and is now is 64% (La Segunda, 
10/7). 
SIMONS