Cablegate: Chile Media Report - August 20

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TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 20

Lead Story
----------
1. An Ipsos survey shows a technical tie between Concertacion
candidate Eduardo Frei and independent Marco Enriquez-Ominami in a
presidential race against Sebastian Pinera. The results were 22.9
for Frei, 20.6 for Enriquez-Ominami, and 35.6 for Pinera,
(Independent, conservative, La Tercera, 8/20).

U.S.-Colombia
-------------
2. In a press roundtable with Chilean journalists on U.S. relations
with the region, Ambassador Paul Simons talked about the
U.S.-Colombia military agreement, the crisis in Honduras, and
bilateral relations with Chile. Reiterating Secretary Clinton's
remarks, the ambassador underscored that the U.S.-Colombia military
agreement does not involve the creation of U.S. military bases and
that all exercises must have Colombia's authorization. He said there
would not be an increase in the U.S. contingent in Colombia. "We
have limits established by law and we are under that number," said
Simons. He added that the agreement "is an example of our ongoing
policy toward Colombia. There is nothing new here. We have worked
with Colombia over the past three administrations" in its fight
against narcotics trafficking. Asked about Honduras, Ambassador
Simons said the USG supports President Oscar Arias' efforts and that
President Obama has been clear "in his support for the restoration
of democratic order and institutions (and) with the return of
President Zelaya to finish his term." With regard to Chile, Simons
expressed satisfaction with the state of the bilateral relation,
saying they have never been as good as they are today (Conservative
afternoon daily La Segunda, 8/19).

3. In a press roundtable, U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons said:
"Relations between Chile and the United States are the best ever. In
the six months of the Obama administration, contacts have been
important and in-depth and in each one we have asked Chile for
advise on how to work successfully with the region" (Quote
highlighted by La Tercera, 8/20).

4. Over the past days, the United States has made effort to explain
its military agreement with Colombia. As part of that strategy,
U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons said the number of soldiers and
contractors that the United States can have in Colombia is limited
by law to 1,400, noting that today there is only a total of 560.
"We have been lowering the number of U.S. personnel in Colombia. We
hope this (trend) will continue with the agreement," said Simons
(Government-owned, La Nacion, 8/20).

5. Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez will meet with his
Chilean counterpart Mariano Fernandez and President Bachelet in
Santiago next Monday to discuss the strong division in the region
triggered by the announcement of the U.S.-Colombia agreement. Four
days later Bachelet will travel to Argentina for the meeting
convoked by UNASUR to find "a solution to the tension produced in
the bloc" over this issue. "I believe we will find more constructive
paths and will be able to produce a more relaxed environment in the
region" said Minister Fernandez about the upcoming UNASUR meeting in
Argentina (El Mercurio, 8/20).

IPR
----
6. Well known rock brand "Metallica" has just won an intellectual
property case in Chile against a local company that had registered
the band's name to sell clothing (El Mercurio, 8/20).
SIMONS

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