US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO1586

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, HA, CI 
SUBJECT: CHILEAN SENATOR EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF 
DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH U.S. 
 
 
1. Summary: Senator Juan Antonio Coloma, head of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, spoke about the future of 
Chilean international relations at the Latin American Faculty 
of Social Sciences (FLACSO) on July 20.  Coloma, who met with 
WHA A/S Noriega in Washington on July 11, emphasized the 
importance of stronger diplomatic ties with the U.S. as a 
logical follow-up to the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement.  He 
also discussed Chile's involvement in Haiti.  End summary. 
 
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Diplomacy: Chile's New International Strategy? 
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2. Coloma told the audience, which included members of the 
diplomatic community and the Chilean Armed Forces, that the 
success of Chile's international relations depended on 
increased international engagement and the 
professionalization of its diplomatic corps.  Coloma said the 
U.S. was increasingly becoming a strategic partner for Chile, 
due to the success of the Free Trade Agreement, shared values 
like democracy, human rights and market orientation, and 
cooperation on key challenges to regional security like 
narcotrafficking and terrorism. 
 
3. Coloma stated that Chile needed to refocus its diplomatic 
efforts to reflect its interests in various regions.  Chile's 
diplomatic representation to the European Union countries 
roughly reflects its economic ties there, according to 
Coloma.  However, the U.S. -- with a quarter of Chile's 
overall two-way trade -- only receives approximately five 
percent of its diplomatic resources.  Coloma argued Chile 
should expand its diplomatic presence in the U.S., 
particularly in the Midwest and southern states, to reflect 
and support the important commercial linkages that already 
exist.  Coloma said Chile's foreign service also needed to 
dedicate more effort to the growing importance of the Asian 
basin and China. 
 
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Haiti 
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4. Senator Coloma characterized Chile's involvement in the 
U.N. Mission in Haiti as an "opportune intervention," despite 
his initial doubts.  Chile's armed forces had gained 
international recognition as an effective and professional 
force through its Haiti deployment.  Coloma noted the 
deployment highlighted humanitarian support as a major 
component of Chile's military mission.  It would also help 
lower regional concerns about Chile's military modernization 
plans.  "To be part of the world is to be part of 
everything," he said, noting that Chile had to play a role in 
international affairs.  At the same time, Chile does not want 
to remain in Haiti forever, he added.  Coloma said former 
President Aristide's supporters are trying to undermine or 
even derail the upcoming elections, and the nation remains 
extraordinarily unstable.  Unless real progress can be made 
to improve security and ensure successful elections, Chile 
will need to consider its exit strategy. 
 
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Comment 
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5. Coloma is the president of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee and a member of the opposition Independent 
Democratic Union (UDI), but showed clear support for the 
Lagos administration's foreign policy, for stronger ties to 
the U.S., and for continued engagement in the international 
arena.  His speech is an example of the general consensus 
across the political spectrum in Chile on free market 
economics and foreign policy as well, although Coloma is more 
publicly pro-American than most. 
KELLY