U.S.-Chilean relations

Interesting piece in La Tercera about President Bachelet's upcoming (June 8) visit to the White House, written by Ascanio Cavallo, one of Chile's most respected journalists (who has written great books on the Pinochet dictatorship and democratic transition). She is getting the star treatment, staying at Blair House and getting a working lunch with the president. The message, though, is that future star treatment will be based on how she deals with Chávez. In particular, the Bush administration wants to be sure she does not support Venezuela' s bid to be on the UN Security Council. The Chilean government is being reminded that although it opposed the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. still negotiated the free trade agreement, but that if it supports Venezuela in this case, the costs "serían altísimos."

Note: La Tercera has started a unique format, where you see the newspaper page exactly as it is in the print version, and it takes up the entire screen.