Cablegate: Media Reaction - Venezuela's Unsc Candidacy

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1642 2122028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 312028Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9713
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1023

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001642

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY

On July 31, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) ran an editorial entitled "The Security
Council Vote." Quote:

"Our government has done well in not committing to candidates
presented thus far, in resisting the pressure to support one or
another, and in favoring greater consensus.... The reasons that
make it difficult and even impossible for the Chavez regime to
represent the region on some of the most important international
policy issues will no doubt persist until October. But it does not
seem reasonable, consistent with our identity and our domestic
consensus, or even politically wise, to give our vote to the Chavez
regime's bid."

KELLY

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