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TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 28
Lead Story
----------
1. President Alvaro Uribe will confront at a UNASUR meeting today
Hugo Chavez' criticism of Colombia's agreement with the United
States (Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, El Mercurio,
8/28).
U.S.-Related News
-----------------
2. The U.S. Embassy in Santiago opened a condolence book for
Senator Edward Kennedy. U.S. Ambassador Paul Simons said the
Senator's was "a great legislator" who passed "many transcendental
bills on issues as diverse as civil rights, education, health,
social and economic welfare and making them a reality for the
American people and that today are the testimony of his dedication
of the service to his country." Simons also underscored Kennedy's
role in the promotion of peace, democracy, and human rights
worldwide, emphasizing his role in the peace agreement to end
violence in Northern Ireland and a peaceful transition in South
Africa (Afternoon, conservative La Segunda, 8/26).
3. Editorial: "Bernanke's Re-nomination": "Although Bernanke is a
Republican who was appointed by George W. Bush... his reappointment
reflects the healthy practice of de-politicizing the Central Bank's
management" (La Segunda,8/27).
Nuclear Energy
--------------
4. University Adolfo Ibanez' report on the eventual use of nuclear
plants in Chile concludes that a mixed state-private ownership would
be the best model to manage these plants in Chile. The GOC has
requested several entities to draft reports on the requirements to
build nuclear plants (El Mercurio, 8/28).
UNASUR
------
5. The president of Ecuador and pro tempore chair of UNASUR, Rafael
Correa, said he would be willing to convoke a new meeting of UNASUR
for heads of state to discuss the Chile-Bolivia 13-point agenda. The
idea was suggested by Peru, whose President implied that Chile and
Bolivia had a secret agreement to give La Paz access to the sea.
Chilean Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez said Chile "has no
problem," with this, since Chile and Bolivia "have a bilateral
relationship that the continent should applaud and that is the
result of hard work by both parties" (Government-owned La Nacion and
El Mercurio, 8/28).
6. Argentine daily "Pagina 12" ran an insert paid by Hugo Chavez
against the U.S.-Colombia military agreement. "It is part of a
political and military plan to eliminate UNASUR," wrote Chavez. In
addition, President Rafael Correa, of Ecuador, warned that the
agreement provides the United States with "the capability to act in
all South America," and questioned Colombia's ability to restrict
military activities in the bases. "Since when have Americans allowed
anyone to control them?" asked Correa (El Mercurio, 8/28).
7. The Argentine press reports that Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Western Hemispheric Affairs Christopher McMullen met with
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana just before today's UNASUR
summit to discuss the use that the United States will make of the
military bases in Colombia (La Tercera, 8/28).
8. A group of Colombians are organizing via Facebook and Twitter a
worldwide demonstration against Chavez on September 4, with the
slogan, "No more Chavez." (La Segunda, 8/27).
Indigenous Affairs
------------------
9. Chile has only until September 15 to implement the Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples Convention (No. 169). But foreseeing that Congress
will run out of time, the Executive Office has decided to apply a
"transitory regulation that will allow it to implement the
convention and comply with the deadline (El Mercurio, 8/28).
Digital Television
------------------
10. Contrary to what the government has said all along,
Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Rene Cortazar said
the government has now decided to select a digital television
standard before passing the new regulatory framework television law
(El Mercurio, 8/28).
SIMONS