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R 251639Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0327
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0187
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001142 
 
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 Nov. 25 Media Report 
 
Lead Story 
 
¶1.      Chile provided an answer yesterday to Peru's diplomatic 
note on the alleged espionage case (All dailies, 11/25). 
 
 
 
Chile-Peru 
 
¶2.      Chile handed Peru yesterday a diplomatic note responding to 
Lima's note over allegations of espionage.  In its note, Chile 
objects to the tone of Peru's official document stating that "it 
does not manifest the constructive spirit that must preside over 
the bilateral relation."  However, it also says that Chile would 
"review thoroughly" the dossier that Peru attached to its note to 
back the allegations of espionage and would communicate the results 
of that review once it has concluded. Peru welcomed Chile's 
decision to review the case (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 
11/25). 
 
 
 
¶3.      Alvaro Vargas Llosa column:  The lesson to be learned from 
the impasse over the alleged espionage is that Chile and Peru must 
find a mechanism to communicate discreetly and effectively on these 
types of issues before they are used by destabilizing forces (La 
Tercera, 11/25). 
 
 
 
¶4.      In its diplomatic note to Peru, Chile does not use the term 
"investigate," but says it would verify the information submitted 
by Peru on the alleged espionage.  Chile has received "signals" 
from Peru that President Garcia was not responsible for leaking the 
information on the alleged espionage and in this context wants to 
give Lima the chance to show some results domestically on this 
matter.  Peruvian Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde labeled Chile's 
diplomatic note "positive," and noted that his Chilean counterpart 
had "explicitly" said that "espionage is illegal in Chile" and that 
if there is evidence of this activity, it would pursue sanctions 
against those responsible. "And that is what Peru is asking for," 
said Garcia Belaunde (El Mercurio, 11/25). 
 
 
 
Chile - Palestine 
 
¶5.      The president of the National Palestinian Authority, 
Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in Santiago for an official three-day visit. 
Abbas will meet with the local Palestinian community --the largest 
outside the Arab world -- and will call on President Bachelet. 
Abbas visited Brazil and Argentina and will travel to Paraguay 
after departing Santiago.  He is seeking support for the creation 
of an independent Palestinian state within the borders that existed 
before the Six-Day War in 1967 (El Mercurio, 11/25) 
 
 
 
Iran 
 
¶6.      Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Bolivia 
yesterday.  He and Evo Morales signed a joint statement defending 
the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (La Tercera, 
11/25). 
 
 
 
¶7.      Presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera met with Brazilian 
President Lula da Silva for about an hour to discuss regional 
integration. Lula said he would attend the swearing-in of Chile's 
next president, regardless of who it is.  Candidates Eduardo Frei 
and Marco Enriquez Ominami met with Lula in March (La Tercera, 
11/25). 
 
Human Rights/Indigenous Affairs 
 
¶8.      President Bachelet signed the law that creates the National 
Human Rights Institute.  This is an independent entity that will 
draft an annual report and determine the kind of legal action to be 
taken in courts of justice, among other things.  But the 
Association of Families of Detained and Disappeared objects to the 
institute on the grounds that it will abide by international and 
not United Nations human rights standards and does not consider the 
application of retroactive measures for human rights violations 
(Government-owned La Nacion, 11/25). 
 
 
 
¶9.      The government has ordered an external audit to investigate 
the use that the Indigenous Development Corporation (CONADI) has 
given to the $9 billion pesos (approximately US$18 million) that 
the government has handed the corporation from 2006 to 2009, but 
for which it has not rendered accounts (El Mercurio, 11/25). 
 
 
 
Terrorism 
 
¶10.  At midnight a police patrol found an explosive device outside 
a meat store in the community of Recoleta. The GOPE (Special 
Operations Group) deactivated the bomb. No pamphlets were found. 
Another item was found in a hall next to a BCI bank office at the 
Marriott Hotel, the same hotel where a bomb detonated a few weeks 
ago.  This time, however, it turned out to be a package of wires in 
a tube. hwovho The police believe the package was intentionally 
placed to generate alarm (Conservative afternoon La Segunda, 
11/24). 
 
 
 
Honduras 
 
¶11.  The United States and Brazil lead two blocks that disagree 
with regard to the election in Honduras. While the United States 
favors legitimizing the election, Brazil considers it illegal as 
long as Zelaya is not reinstated in office. According to the daily 
O Globo  do Sao Paulo, the discrepancy between the two countries 
increased when Washington rejected a proposal presented by 
Brazilian Foreign Ministry's Secretary for Political Affairs Vera 
Machado to her U.S. counterpart William Burns on October 17 to 
postpone the election for another two weeks.  According to the 
daily, the friction between the two countries increased on Monday 
at the OAS Permanent Council on Monday. There is concern that this 
will results in a regional division (Government-owned, La Nacion, 
11/25). 
SIMONS