US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO2383

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002383 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC 
STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, OPRC, CI, ETRD 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -FTAA 
 
 
On November 21, center-left "Diario Siete" (circ. 23,000) 
carried an editorial entitled, "The Road to Free Trade." 
Quote: 
 
"A recent World Bank survey compared the growth of 
`globalized' developing countries with `unglobalized' 
ones....  Per capita growth in the first group was three 
to four times higher than in the second....  In this 
context it is a pity that we can still hear Latin 
American voices opposing commercial integration for 
ideological reasons based on opposition to the United 
States....  A minimal degree of realism advises us to 
remain open to the idea of a common market...to improve 
the continent's ability to compete in global trade.... 
This means negotiating, removing obstacles, and rooting 
out the idea that the only valid attitude toward the U.S. 
is confrontation.  One can reject the Bush government's 
Iraq policy while generating conditions for trade with 
the world's largest economy.  This is what many Latin 
American nations trying to establish bilateral agreements 
with the U.S. have come to realize." 
 
On November 21, conservative, independent "La Tercera" 
(circ. 102,000) ran an article by Alvaro Vargas Llosa 
entitled, "Dispute Between Fox and Chavez Reflects 
Political Division in Latin America."  Quote: 
"The crisis between Mexico and Venezuela and their 
presidents indicates the Cuba-Venezuela axis has opted to 
take the offensive in view of a clear lack of 
leadership...among countries supporting the U.S.-backed 
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)....  Although the 
only five regional countries-the four Mercosur members 
and Venezuela-that oppose the FTAA are not in ideological 
harmony, (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chavez has realized 
the weak leadership among those closest to the United 
States gives him an advantage." 
 
KELLY