Chile: Obama's South American trip overshadowed by Libya

The Santiago Times

Obama’s Speech To Latin America Draws Muted Reactions
Written by Mark Briggs

International press coverage overshadowed by Libya mission

U.S. President Barack Obama called for a new relationship between Latin America and the U.S. in a speech given in Chile’s capital of Santiago on Monday.
Obama became only the third serving U.S. president to visit Chile on an official visit and in a half hour speech praised the progress of the country and the region, declaring Latin America was ready to take a bigger role in world affairs and was now an “equal partner.”

His first tour of Latin America, which also includes visits to Brazil and El Salvador, has been highly anticipated in the region.

Political reactions in Chile in the hours following the speech have been positive. Obama held Chile as a model of success for countries transitioning from dictatorship to democracy. Right-wing politician Patricio Melero said Obama’s praise represented a “fair recognition of our way to development.”

“It is valuable that the President of the United States relates to our country in these terms, and it should highlight the capacity to reconcile democracy, politics, economic growth and social equity,” added the president of the moderate Christian Democratic Party, Ignacio Walker.

Reaction among Chileans in general has been more muted. There is disappointment that, unlike in Brazil, Obama’s visit closed off to the public the entire time. Only accredited press and politicians were able to see the president (ST, Street Opinions article).

Chilean daily La Tercera ran an opinion blog asking what people expect from Obama’s visit. It is perhaps telling that the only two comments left where none too positive; “nothing” wrote Enrique Diaz Morales, while Celia di Maria responded “bread today…”

Blogs on the website for El Mercurio, the far right newspaper which carried an exclusive interview with Obama before he arrived, has also been tepid in their reaction. Columnist Karin Ebensperger called for “a mature relationship, sustained over time and clear objectives.”

Chileans, although happy to welcome Obama, have not fallen on his every word as though manna from heaven, in perhaps the best indication that the two countries are moving towards being equal partners.

Twitter responses have been far from positive, with many calling the speech boring.

“I’m fed up with the theme of Obama, finally he begins to value Chile,” said one user. Another simply put “I have nothing against the visit of Obama.”

Outside of Chile the speech has been largely overshadow by events in Libya. Spanish paper El País only mentioned the speech in reference to its content on the ongoing operations by Allied forces. Media in the U.S. have likewise shown little interest in the speech, again focusing more heavily on the unfolding events in North Africa.

Newspapers in El Salvador, Obama’s next and final stop, have largely led with Obama’s praise of the region, however many comments continue to ask how Obama differs from any of his predecessors, accusing him of empty words.

Protests are planned in San Salvador tomorrow calling for the U.S. to recognize self governance in the region.

http://www.santiagotimes.cl/politics/other/21021-obamas-speech-to-latin-america-draws-muted-reactions