Cablegate: Chilean Fm Responds to Follow-Up Letter On U.S.-Colombia

VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1252 3621559
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 281558Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0479
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001252

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR KTIA US CO CI
SUBJECT: CHILEAN FM RESPONDS TO FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON U.S.-COLOMBIA
DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT

REF: 09 STATE 121858

1. On December 22, Post received Diplomatic Note number 016054
dated December 18, from the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
transmitting the following letter from Foreign Minister Fernandez
to Secretaries Clinton and Gates. Paragraph two is Post's informal
translation of the letter. Original to follow separately.

2. Begin text: Dear Secretaries of State and Defense,

I have the pleasure of writing to confirm the receipt of your
letter from November in which you explain the scope of the
"U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement," signed on October 30
in Bogota.

In the name of Chile, I wish to express that my country respects
the sovereignty, national interest, and political decisions of each
nation in our region, particularly those pertaining to
international cooperation and the internal affairs of each State.
That said, it is understood that the above mentioned agreement is
governed by international law and the principles of the Charter of
the United Nations, without affecting third countries or the region
as a whole.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you the assurances
of my highest esteem and most distinguished consideration.

Mariano Fernandez Amunategui. End text.
SIMONS

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