VZCZCXYZ0017
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #1859 3271048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231048Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2437
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1865
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0011
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0618
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1553
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5303
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1784
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV UNVIE VIENNA 0037
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001859
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PD, INR/IAA, PM, INL
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PREL PGOV OPRC PTER CI IR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM - DVC WITH
AMBASSADOR GREG SCHULTE
1. Summary: U.S. Representative to the International Atomic Energy
Agency, Ambassador Greg Schulte, briefed via Digital Video
Conference (DVC) Chilean TV and radio commentators, think tank
analysts, and university academics on the danger of Iran's nuclear
program and the need for Iranian compliance with UN Security Council
resolutions. All Santiago leading newspapers gave prominent
coverage to Ambassador Schulte's comments on November 21 with
headlines such as: "No one Believes Iran's Nuclear Plan has Peaceful
Objectives" and "U.S. Urges Chile and Latin American to Assume 'Key
Role' in Iranian Nuclear Problem." Headlines and excerpts follow.
End Summary.
2. On November 21, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record El
Mercurio (circ. 129,000) published a story on Iran's nuclear threat
featuring Ambassador Greg Schulte, U.S. Permanent Representative to
the IAEA, at a DVC in Embassy Santiago. The headline read:
"Ambassador Schulte: 'No one believes that Iran's nuclear plan is
for peaceful purposes.'"
The sub-headline read: Schulte said Teheran's cooperation with the
IAEA is not enough -- Chile and Latin America's role is to show Iran
that this matter concerns the international community as a whole.
3. Ambassador Schulte said Teheran is not doing what is required
for the IAEA to suspend sanctions. "Iran's cooperation is selective
and incomplete," he said. "No one here in Vienna believes that Iran
is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," said Schulte,
noting that Teheran has established friendships with questionable
countries such as Venezuela, Syria, and Cuba to deal with its
international isolation. Schulte also highlighted the unity of the
international community on this matter and said that the differences
between the United States with Russia and China on when and how to
act do not undermine the overall effort to stop Iran's nuclear
program. "The good news is that a large number of countries are
pursuing the same diplomatic goals. The bad news is that we have
not yet persuaded Iran's leaders to change direction."
4. On November 20, El Mercurio's on-line news service (EMOL)
headline read: U.S. Urges Chile and Latin American to Assume 'Key
Role' in Iranian Nuclear Problem." The article highlighted
Ambassador's Schulte's remarks: "Chile and Latin American countries
should communicate to Iran that this is an issue that concerns the
international community, because everyone is interested in
preventing a small arms race.... Iran should fully cooperate (with
the AIEA), but we see selective cooperation.... No one in Vienna
believes Iran's nuclear process is for peaceful means."
5. On November 21, business and financial "Diario Financiero"
(circ. 30,000) headlined: "U.S seeks more allies against Iran's
nuclear program." Ambassador Schulte asked Chile and Latin America
to play a key role with regard to Iran's nuclear program, expressing
their concerns to Tehran. In reference to the IAEA report submitted
last week, the Ambassador said Iran's cooperation with the agency is
"selective and incomplete" and added that Iran wants to make the
nuclear program an issue between the United States and Teheran when
it is an issue between Iran and the world. Schulte also noted that
Chilean Milenko Skoknic has been the agency's Board Chairman since
September.
6. The government-owned, editorially-independent "La Nacion" (circ.
4,200) headline on November 21 read: "U.S. wants Chile's support in
dispute over Iran's nuclear program."
URBAN