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RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #1142/01 3291640
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251639Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0327
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
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0187
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001142
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: Santiago Nov. 25 Media Report
Lead Story
1. Chile provided an answer yesterday to Peru's diplomatic
note on the alleged espionage case (All dailies, 11/25).
Chile-Peru
2. Chile handed Peru yesterday a diplomatic note responding to
Lima's note over allegations of espionage. In its note, Chile
objects to the tone of Peru's official document stating that "it
does not manifest the constructive spirit that must preside over
the bilateral relation." However, it also says that Chile would
"review thoroughly" the dossier that Peru attached to its note to
back the allegations of espionage and would communicate the results
of that review once it has concluded. Peru welcomed Chile's
decision to review the case (Conservative, independent La Tercera,
11/25).
3. Alvaro Vargas Llosa column: The lesson to be learned from
the impasse over the alleged espionage is that Chile and Peru must
find a mechanism to communicate discreetly and effectively on these
types of issues before they are used by destabilizing forces (La
Tercera, 11/25).
4. In its diplomatic note to Peru, Chile does not use the term
"investigate," but says it would verify the information submitted
by Peru on the alleged espionage. Chile has received "signals"
from Peru that President Garcia was not responsible for leaking the
information on the alleged espionage and in this context wants to
give Lima the chance to show some results domestically on this
matter. Peruvian Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde labeled Chile's
diplomatic note "positive," and noted that his Chilean counterpart
had "explicitly" said that "espionage is illegal in Chile" and that
if there is evidence of this activity, it would pursue sanctions
against those responsible. "And that is what Peru is asking for,"
said Garcia Belaunde (El Mercurio, 11/25).
Chile - Palestine
5. The president of the National Palestinian Authority,
Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in Santiago for an official three-day visit.
Abbas will meet with the local Palestinian community --the largest
outside the Arab world -- and will call on President Bachelet.
Abbas visited Brazil and Argentina and will travel to Paraguay
after departing Santiago. He is seeking support for the creation
of an independent Palestinian state within the borders that existed
before the Six-Day War in 1967 (El Mercurio, 11/25)
Iran
6. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Bolivia
yesterday. He and Evo Morales signed a joint statement defending
the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (La Tercera,
11/25).
7. Presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera met with Brazilian
President Lula da Silva for about an hour to discuss regional
integration. Lula said he would attend the swearing-in of Chile's
next president, regardless of who it is. Candidates Eduardo Frei
and Marco Enriquez Ominami met with Lula in March (La Tercera,
11/25).
Human Rights/Indigenous Affairs
8. President Bachelet signed the law that creates the National
Human Rights Institute. This is an independent entity that will
draft an annual report and determine the kind of legal action to be
taken in courts of justice, among other things. But the
Association of Families of Detained and Disappeared objects to the
institute on the grounds that it will abide by international and
not United Nations human rights standards and does not consider the
application of retroactive measures for human rights violations
(Government-owned La Nacion, 11/25).
9. The government has ordered an external audit to investigate
the use that the Indigenous Development Corporation (CONADI) has
given to the $9 billion pesos (approximately US$18 million) that
the government has handed the corporation from 2006 to 2009, but
for which it has not rendered accounts (El Mercurio, 11/25).
Terrorism
10. At midnight a police patrol found an explosive device outside
a meat store in the community of Recoleta. The GOPE (Special
Operations Group) deactivated the bomb. No pamphlets were found.
Another item was found in a hall next to a BCI bank office at the
Marriott Hotel, the same hotel where a bomb detonated a few weeks
ago. This time, however, it turned out to be a package of wires in
a tube. hwovho The police believe the package was intentionally
placed to generate alarm (Conservative afternoon La Segunda,
11/24).
Honduras
11. The United States and Brazil lead two blocks that disagree
with regard to the election in Honduras. While the United States
favors legitimizing the election, Brazil considers it illegal as
long as Zelaya is not reinstated in office. According to the daily
O Globo do Sao Paulo, the discrepancy between the two countries
increased when Washington rejected a proposal presented by
Brazilian Foreign Ministry's Secretary for Political Affairs Vera
Machado to her U.S. counterpart William Burns on October 17 to
postpone the election for another two weeks. According to the
daily, the friction between the two countries increased on Monday
at the OAS Permanent Council on Monday. There is concern that this
will results in a regional division (Government-owned, La Nacion,
11/25).
SIMONS