Cablegate: Chile Media Report - August 24

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 24

Lead Story
----------
1. Tests show that the virus affecting two turkey breeding farms in
the Fifth Region is the AH1N1 virus that affected humans this
winter. This makes Chile the first country to detect the virus in
turkeys. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also monitoring the
two farms (Conservative afternoon La Segunda, 8/21 and all dailies
8/23).

U.S. Sailor Arrested
--------------------
2. "Gringo sailor sweet-talks a 15 year-old Lolita": During a normal
check of nightclubs in the port of Valparaiso, the police surprised
a USS Makin Island sailor (age 26) with an under aged 15 year-old
girl. The woman was taken to the hospital for an examination to
determine if she had had sexual intercourse with the sailor. The
sailor and the owner of the nightclub were arrested (La Estrella de
Valparaiso, 8/24)

3. Headline: "American sailor arrested in Valparaiso for abusing a
Minor": The police arrested a USS Makin Island sailor who was
surprised in a hotel bedroom with a 15 year-old girl The police
also arrested the hotel's administrator for possible ties with a
prostitution ring involving minors. The U.S. sailor testified until
after midnight and was then handed to the custody of the Chilean
Navy where high level ship and U.S. Embassy officials arrived (Radio
Cooperativa on line, 8/23).

4. A 23-year old sailor who belongs in the USS Makin Island was
arrested last night charged with alleged statutory rape. The
individual, with initials A.P.D., was taken by surprise in a brothel
in Valparaiso while in the company of a 16-year old minor. Although
tests conducted on the minor showed no evidence of a sexual act, the
police detained the owner of the brothel for purported involvement
in a trafficking in persons ring. According to Carabineros' Major
Sergio Lipski, "the minor was taken by surprise in a bedroom, but
was not engaged in sexual behavior" (La Tercera, 8/24).

U.S.-Related News
-----------------
5. Interview with John Podesta, head of Barack Obama's transition
team, entitled, "The next six to eight months will be decisive for
Obama." Podesta, director of one of the most influential progressive
think tanks in the world, The Center for American Progress, said
that the health reform "is the most important project this year" for
President Obama, and that failing to approve the reform would "hurt"
the President (Conservative, influential La Tercera, 8/23).

6. American citizen Melissa Odell was walking in Valparaiso when an
individual tried to snatch her purse. Melissa hung on to it and was
dragged several feet, receiving a deep cut in her head. Two
individuals jumped in to help Odell, but the thief ran away with her
purse, credit card, and approximately US$98 (Popular Las Ultimas
Noticias, 8/23).

Business
--------
7. Chinese multi-national companies are looking to invest in Chile,
especially in mining, energy, and vineyards. China is Chile's
primary destination of overall exports and Chinese investment in
Chile since 1974 totals US$84.4 million (La Tercera, 8/23).

U.S.-Colombia Agreement
-----------------------
8. Interview with Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez
entitled: "This is a cooperation agreement to defeat narcotics
trafficking and terrorism. We must not forget that presidential
candidates and innocent people have been murdered in Colombia. The
international community is very supportive in expressing its
condolences for these deaths, but truly effective cooperation in
this fight is scarce and the United States has been very generous in
that (...) President Bachelet has been very explicit in respecting
Colombia's agreement with the United States and we highly value
that" (El Mercurio, 8/23).

9. Brazilian President Lula da Silva suggested that President Obama
meet with the presidents of South America to discuss the presence of
U.S. troops in Colombia's bases. In a telephone conversation, Brazil
underscored the sensitivity in the region over the announcement and
reiterated the need to have judicial guarantees that military
activities will be limited to Colombian territory, said Brazilian
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (El Mercurio, 8/23).

10. President Hugo Chavez said that at the UNASUR meeting in
Argentina, he would "unmask the lies," presented by Colombia. In his
radio program "Alo Presidente," Chavez showed a copy of a U.S. Air
Force document outlining the types of bases that will operate in
Colombia, which are referred to as "expeditionary facilities" (La
Tercera, 8/24).

Chile-Peru
-----------
11. In an interview, Peruvian President Alan Garcia commented on his
decision to contest maritime borders with Chile with the
International Court of The Hague. "One day people will understand
that it is best to resolve these matters through institutions
created for this purpose rather than discussing them through the
press.... The maritime border... is an economic issue as well,"
said Garcia. The claim affects 35,000 kilometers of sea under
Chilean sovereignty. Asked about Bolivian President Evo Morales'
claim that the suit was intended to hurt ongoing negotiations
between Chile and Bolivia over the latter's access to the sea,
Garcia said: "Since he (Evo Morales) cannot pick a fight with
Santiago he picks one with Lima, which is an adversary that entails
a lower cost (for Bolivia)" (La Tercera, 8/23).

12. In an interview with CNN-Chile, Chilean Foreign Minister
Mariano Fernandez rebutted President Garcia and said that Peru's
claim with The Hague "was a major provocation," because Garcia "had
built" a case to question maritime borders that have been respected
and never questioned by either country for the past 50 years.
Fernandez also that in his interview Garcia had somewhat admitted
that Peru had played a part in preventing Bolivia from exporting gas
to Chile (La Tercera, 8/24).

Blackwater
-----------
13. Some say that Blackwater has expanded its operations so much
into what used to be an exclusive area of the Pentagon, and that its
activities are so deeply intertwined with the U.S. defense system,
that President Obama could very well have already approved several
million dollars for the controversial company without even knowing
it (El Mercurio, 8/23).

Ecuador
-------
14. In an interview, the President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes
expressed his admiration for Presidents Obama and Lula for their
leadership and democratic commitment. Funes reiterated his
independence from all axis of power in the continent, including the
bloc led by Hugo Chavez. However, he said, "it is not for him to
judge any head of state in the region" (El Mercurio, 8/24)

SIMONS

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