Cablegate: Santiago Feb 12 Media Report

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SUBJECT: Santiago Feb 12 Media Report

Lead Story

1. President-elect Pi????era will sell on Tuesday 792,000 shares
share of Las Condes Medical Clinic in the local stock market. This
amount to 9.76% of ownership (Business daily Estrategia, 2/12).

OAS

2. Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez responded to an
editorial published by The Washington Post on Wednesday criticizing
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza's role in the
organization. "One must be very careful with facts and it is not
accurate to say that the OAS has failed on issues related to
democracy," said Fernandez, announcing that he was preparing a
letter of complaint to respond to The Post. Insulza said he was
not surprised by the editorial, because "those behind it are the
same ones who were behind the campaign in favor of (former de facto
president of Honduras) Roberto Micheletti." Insulza added that "a
large majority" of those who oppose his reelection are from the
Republican Party (Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record El
Mercurio, 2/12).

3. OAS Secretary General Insulza said that The Washington
Post's editorial is part of a campaign that began months ago,
launched by the same people who were behind the campaign in favor
of Micheletti in Honduras. Insulza said this is "fundamentally a
lobby" on specific issues related to countries such Cuba and
Venezuela (Government-owned La Nacion, 2/12).

4. Exclusive op-ed by Roger Noriega entitled, "The OAS, What
is at Stake for Chile":

"A few months ago I accidentally came across OAS Secretary General
Insulza in Washington.... I reminded him that he had persuaded
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to support his candidacy by
promising he would insist that regional leaders not only be
elected, but that they must also govern democratically. I told him
that he had broken his promise with his actions in favor of Cuba
... with his opposition to democracy in Venezuela, Bolivia,
Nicaragua, and other countries .... The week before Insulza's
election, I was there when he said that 'elected governments that
don't rule democratically will have to answer to the OAS'....
Insulza did not just fail to defend democracy, rule of law,
separation of powers, and freedom of expression ... his leadership
has encouraged dictators-to-be and demoralized democrats....
Perhaps no one has the capability to uphold democracy and human
rights given Hugo Chavez' relentless anti-democratic campaign, but
Insulza's record shows he is not even willing to try.... Chileans
must realize what is at stake before voting and think on whether
the OAS can or not carry out its fundamental mission with Insulza"
(El Mercurio, 2/12).

Mexican Embassy Attacked

5. Summary: On Wednesday at 6:15 p.m., a dozen hooded
individuals attacked the Mexican embassy in Santiago with hammers,
paint, and stones. They broke all first floor glass doors and
windows and smeared the front walls with paint. They pulled down
the flag, but were unable to burn it. The incident lasted no more
than 50 seconds and was captured by the security cameras. The
Mexican Embassy does not have permanent police protection.
Pamphlets were left indicating that what occurred is part of a
"solidarity movement" for the release of political prisoners
"kidnapped and imprisoned" in Mexico (All dailies, 2/12).

6. The Chilean Foreign Ministry condemned the attack stating
that "nothing can justify it" (Conservative, afternoon La Segunda,
2/11).

7. The police have already identified some of the suspects of
the attack. They all have ties to anarchist organizations. The
embassy was closed to the public, but several officers were still
inside. In spite of the damage, the Mexican Consulate said it
considers this an isolated incident and would not request special
police protection (El Mercurio, 2/12).

8. The police reports that anarchist groups are participating
in the "international solidarity with prisoners" week February
1-12. This week the Mexican embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was
also attacked, also demanding the release of prisoners in Mexico
(Conservative, independent La Tercera, 2/12).

President-elect Pi????era

9. Sebasti????n Pi????era met yesterday with his foreign
minister,
Alfredo Moreno, and with the three experts that will advise him on
international affairs. Among the topics discussed was Hugo Chavez'
influence in the region. The axis of Pi????era's foreign policy will
focus on Mexico, Brazil -- given this country's influence in South
America and its role as mediator with regard to Hugo Chavez-- and
Colombia. Pi????era has very close and long-lasting ties with
President Alvaro Uribe. Pi????era will meet today in his home with
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (El Mercurio, 2/12).
URBAN

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