Cablegate: Peruvians Positive On Fm/Mod Talks with Chile

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPE #4287 3102230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 062230Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2899
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4054
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7046
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9861
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV QUITO 0777
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0927
RUMIAAA/CDR USCINCSO MIAMI FL

UNCLAS LIMA 004287

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PE
SUBJECT: PERUVIANS POSITIVE ON FM/MOD TALKS WITH CHILE

1. (U) FM Garcia and MOD Wagner,s October meeting with
their Chilean counterparts in Santiago received favorable
press coverage from leading media outlets in Peru. In
particular, the press reacted positively to the announcement
that Peru and Chile would create a joint peace-keeping force.
The force would serve on humanitarian missions abroad and
de-mine the border between the two countries.

2. (U) Despite the overall positive reaction, some press
accounts criticized Chile,s plan to continue arms purchases.
The press also criticized the GOP for not raising Peru's
maritime boundary dispute with Chile. A recent poll for Lima
daily "El Comercio" indicated that over 70% of Peruvians
believe this to be their country's top bilateral issue with
their southern neighbor.

3. (SBU) Comment: In a short time, the Garcia Administration
has improved relations with Chile and reduced much of the
animosity and overheated rhetoric that often figured in
discussions of Peru-Chile issues in the past. We expect the
momentum towards stronger bilateral ties to continue,
punctuated by occasional anti-Chilean polemics in the popular
press.
STRUBLE

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