VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #0012 0061433
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061431Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0500
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
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000012
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: Media Report January 6
Lead Story
1. Chile's Central Bank reported a 3.1% increase in
November 2009, in its Economic Activity Monthly Index (IMACEC.)
This is the first monthly increase in a year, which raises the
expectations about further expansion.
Weisfeiler Case
2. The National Security Archive [Washington, D.C.-based
non-governmental research institute] requested the Government of
Chile to declassify the documents related to the disappearance of
American citizen Boris Weisfeiler, who went missing on January 4,
1985 during the Pinochet regime. The petition -aimed at finding
new leads in the ongoing judicial process initiated in 2000-was
filed with Chile's Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the
Interior's Foreigners and Immigration Office, and Chilean Police
"Carabineros." Olga Weisfeiler, his sister, noted that 25 years
after her brother's disappearance she still hasn't received a
response by the Chilean Government to her petition. (Conservative,
independent La Tercera 1/6)
Air Safety
3. President Obama admitted that U.S. intelligence
services had sufficient information to prevent a terrorist attack
on a commercial liner on Christmas Day, but did not know how to
integrate it and use it appropriately. President Obama committed
to take action with the "utmost urgency" in strengthening air
safety and preventing further incidents. In Chile, the
announcement about the implementation of tighter controls in U.S.
airports raised dissimilar opinions. Chile's Air Federation
Vice-president Tito Mu????oz noted that tougher security in the
United
States prevents the industry's further development, "Evidently,
air business could be resented," he said. On the contrary, local
commercial airline commented, "LAN complies rigorously with all
requirements by the authorities in the countries it operates."
IATA's branch office in Santiago agreed with the new regulations:
"The TSA's January 3rd announcement... was received as a step in
the right direction." (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El
Mercurio, 1/6)
Copper Miner's Strike
4. The workers on strike at Chile's state-owned
Chuquicamata copper mine accepted the authorities' latest proposal
and ended the work stoppage. The workers will receive a 4% wage
increase and approximately USD 24,000 in benefits.
SIMONS