Cablegate: Media Reaction - U.S.-Chile Relations

VZCZCXYZ0024
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1501 2561316
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131316Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2145

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001501

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL

STATE FOR INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PTER CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-CHILE RELATIONS

On September 12, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) carried a positive op-ed by Chilean
Ambassador to the United States, Mariano Fernandez entitled
"Assessment of Chile/U.S. Relations." Quotes:

"To define the state of our political ties with the United States...
we could say this is a high period, without any gloomy issues....
In June 2006, both Presidents met for the first time. That meeting
has been followed by an array of visits of authorities in both
directions.... Of these, we must note the meetings between Foreign
Affairs Minister Alejandro Foxley and Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice have given bilateral relations an important push forward and an
active dialogue on global and regional affairs. This reflects an
interesting U.S. perception of our foreign policy, because it is not
common to have such frequent meetings....

Naturally, both countries concur on many important issues, but also
have some differences on others. This, however, does not interfere
with the communication or active cooperation between both countries.
Such is the case regarding specific differences (IPR and the
Iternational Criminal Court) on which we are making efforts... to
resolve. We are also making important efforts to strengthen and
diversify... the matrix of our relations, by promoting cooperation
on environmental... education... and cultural issues.... In coming
months... we foresee promising results for political, economic, and
commercial relations and for progress in regional cooperation. The
government of Chile has advocated actively recommending that the
U.S. Congress approve the free trade agreements with Colombia,
Panama, and Peru."

YAMAUCHI

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