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DE RUEHSG #1254/01 3621604
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R 281602Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0480
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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RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001254 
 
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: Media Report December 25-28, 2009 
 
Former President Frei's Death 
 
 
 
¶1.      The FBI's report has gained unexpected prominence in the 
probe on the death of former President Eduardo Frei Montalva. 
While the plaintiffs lack its validity, the defendants cite it as a 
proof to delegitimize the thesis about his poisoning. The confusion 
rests on the confidentiality with which its content has been 
handled, especially from the FBI, since so far it has only released 
information about the non existence of toxic elements in the 
analyzed tissues.  When the Chilean toxicologists (who examined the 
remains of the former President) requested for the FBI's 
specification on the toxic substances identified, they only found 
the silence of the forensic investigator in charge: Kimberly Murga. 
Dr. Murga is currently working at the Las Vegas Police Lab. She did 
not reply to Que Pasa's inquiries. (Conservative, news weekly Que 
Pasa, 12/25) 
 
 
 
¶2.      Story examining the series of conclusions reached by one of 
the Chilean toxicologists who examined the remains of former 
President Feri Montalva. Dr. Laura B????rgel's report noted that the 
victim was exposed to thallium and sulphur mustard on three 
occasions. The document revealed that they took blood samples from 
President Feri's son, Jorge Frei Ruiz-Tagle, to compare the 
results.  (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio, 12/28) 
 
 
 
OAS Secretary General 
 
 
 
¶3.      Outgoing OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza is 
seeking to advance the upcoming May elections to fill his current 
position. Insulza seeks his reelection and at present does not have 
a contender. The initiative, proposed by Colombia and strongly 
supported by Chile, has been rejected by the United States and 
Venezuela.  The latter has been leading a proposal to run its own 
candidate.  Insulza's game, which is supported by Chilean Foreign 
Minister Mariano Fernandez, is to narrow down any other eventual 
competitor's chances. Sources close to Insulza believe that Chavez' 
offensive aims at putting pressure on the current Secretary General 
rather than on presenting a candidate in order to request more 
guarantees in exchange for support.  Within La Moneda there is a 
similar idea in regard to Washington's stance.  Reportedly, the 
latter dismissed promoting Costa Rican Oscar Arias and is now 
considering "drawing the line," and requesting that Insulza take a 
tougher position on Caracas.  Since June, when Insulza supported 
putting an end to a veto for Cuba's reentrance to the OAS, his 
relations with Washington have not been at their best. In late May, 
in El Salvador, Insulza had a strong conversation with Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton. The Washington flank reopened again with the 
Honduran crisis which raised criticisms in the U.S. over his 
handling of the situation. (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 
12/27) 
 
 
 
¶4.      Editorial column stating the inconvenience of moving 
forward the election for OAS Secretary General:  "Due to the fact 
that the next Chilean government will be the one to interact with 
whomever results elected --or reelected--,  it is more convenient 
to allow it to determine the way to face the election process for 
secretary general...  Not speeding up the schedule would give time 
to discuss certain subjects prior to his eventual reelection.  The 
Chilean contending candidacy (opposition to the government 
coalition) has been critical of the way in which the secretary 
general has participated in the Chilean electoral process... A 
first requisite for an eventual reelection should be to have 
(Insulza) abandon such attitude that confuses his role and ends up 
becoming a distraction to his job in Washington... The proposal to 
move forward the election caused an unusual consensus between the 
United States and Venezuela, whose ambassadors ruled out the idea 
introduced by Colombia..." (La Tercera ,12/26 
 
Chile-U.S. 
 
 
 
¶5.      The United States led foreign investments in Chile during 
2009, mainly due to Wal-Mart's arrival. Since 1974, when 
legislation protecting foreign investment came into force, the U.S. 
has invested a total of $20 billion dollars, thus consolidating 
itself as the major foreign investor in the country.  (El Mercurio, 
12/28) 
 
 
 
Copenhagen 
 
 
 
¶6.      Column by international pundit Raul Sohr : "The Copenhagen 
Disaster"  "Only now one appreciates the depth of the debacle 
experienced at the largest international conference in recent 
years... There are no goals or stated commitments.  Much less 
control mechanisms and sanctions ... The lack of respect for 
protocols reached unseen levels... From Obama's perspective, the 
results were optimum: he did not assume commitments for the Senate 
to revoke, and he made China and India adhere to a process led by 
Washington... Beyond the considerations for U.S. domestic politics, 
the happenings in Copenhagen are already bringing regrettable 
consequences...  Quite often several traffic accidents are needed 
to prompt the installation of a traffic light. In this case, 
several environmental disasters will be necessary in order to 
consider the measures that should have been adopted at Copenhagen." 
(Government-owned, editorially independent, La Nacion, 12/25) 
 
 
 
Latin America 
 
 
 
¶7.      Editorial round-up column on international affairs: "At the 
end of this current year and regarding peace in Latin America there 
is not much to celebrate.  On the contrary, violence and 
instability are increasing in the region. Although not 
interconnected, recent developments in Mexico, Colombia, and 
Venezuela show this." (El Mercurio, 12/28) 
SIMONS