From: sangu@igc.org (David Sangurima)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: IPS: Chilean cooperation with EC
Date: 21 Jul 92 02:04:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1473800078:000:4460
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!sangu    Jul 20 19:04:00 1992


From: David Sangurima <sangu>
Subject: IPS: Chilean cooperation with EC

/* Written  7:32 am  Jul 20, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica */
/* ---------- "CHILE: President tries to strengthe" ---------- */
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: CHILE: President tries to strengthe

/* Written 12:29 am  Jul 20, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: CHILE: President tries to strengthen co-operation with EC


brussels, jul 17 (ips) -- a six million dollar aid package from
the european community (ec) was pledged to chile at the end of the
first visit of a chilean head of state to the ec headqaurters in
brussels for 20 years.

the six million dollar ec package includes funds to tackle drug
problems, help government decentralisation and promote tourism.

aylwin told reporters that drug production was ''very limited''
in chile, apart from some marijuana growing, but 'coca paste'
consumption was popular amongst the young in the north of the
country. the ec-funded programme will feature information
campaigns about the danger of drug consumption.

but aylwin did not agree that chilean traffickers should be tried
overseas. ''we agree with the idea that the struggle against drug
traffickers is a supra-national issue,'' he said.

''but we are against judgements for traffickers and other
criminals being sequestrated on another territory. there are
extradition agreements for this purpose.''

a further ec programme will support initiatives for de-
centralisation and democracy such as logistical support for the
holding of legislative elections and a programme to promote
chilean tourism in the ec.

but aylwin made less headway promoting the exports of chilean
produce to the ec.

chile has asked the ec for the right to export more of its
agricultural produce to europe at lower tariffs. the ec's
protectionsist common agricultural policy (cap) makes its markets
hard to penetrate.

ec officials made no specific promises but agreed to set up a
joint ec-chile committee which will meet regularly to discuss
options for improved access to the ec market for chilean produce.

chile is one developing country which would benefit greatly from
the successful conclusion of the uruguay round of trade
liberalisation talks under the general agreement on tariffs and
trade (gatt), aylwin added. the talks are blocked by the failure
to reach agreement on reforms on the cap.

although it is a member of the 'rio group' of latin american
states, chile does not belong to either the smaller mercosur
(argentina, brazil, uruguay and paraguay) which aims at a common
market in south america, nor the andean pact. (more/ips)

chile: president tries to strengthen co-operation with ec(2-e)

chile: president tries (2)

the european community on the other hand is keen to promote
regional cooperation in the latin american region. ''the chilean
economy is not at the moment economically compatible with the
other countries of the mercosur,'' said aylwin.

at just 11 percent, chile had one of the lowest levels of
inflation in latin america, whereas nations of the mercosur had
levels varying between 40 and 50 percent.

on the other hand, chile was striking up bilateral agreements
with many latin american states including venezuela, bolivia and
argentina.

chile could also be in line to benefit from funds from the
luxembourg-based european investment bank (eib) for asia and latin
america.

after years of lobbying by asian and latin american states, the
ec pledged this year pledged a pool of 250 million ecus (325
million dollars) per annum over the next three years to spend on
projects in both regions.

the eib's soft loans traditionally finance infrastructure,
communication and projects to stimulate small and medium
enterprises.

for chile's small businesses too, the ec offered access to its
business cooperation network, a database of ec companies
interested in doing business overseas.

the visit, which ended friday, also was designed to lend support
to the democratisation process in chile launched by president
patricio aylwin since his appointment in march 1990 and the end of
the 16-year-long dictatorship of augusto pinochet.

aylwin told journalists here friday that all the 400 political
prisoners in jail when he took office had been released.
(end/ips/cd/dp/rj/92)