Consultative Bilateral Mechanisms

• Bilateral Political Consultations

• Defense and Strategic Affairs

• Diplomatic Academy - U.S. Foreign Service Institute

• Environment

• Fisheries Cooperation Talks

• Multilateral consultations

• Policy Planning

• Science and Technology

Bilateral political consultations

The last meeting of political consultations was held on Washington, D.C. in March of 2004. The heads of the delegations were Undersecretary of Foreign Relations, Cristián Barros, and Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Roger Noriega.

As the main mechanism to revise the bilateral relations, both countries prepared a broad and full agenda. They discussed, for instance, the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement, as well as the challenges and projects that both parties could develop in the near future in order to enhance their contacts and ties. One of the areas discussed was related to education; in that matter, both authorities talked about the possibilities of increasing cooperation and joint programs.

Regarding multilateral affairs, both delegations assessed the role played by Chile in the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member. In the matter, they looked for ways to strengthen collaboration in the reconstruction of Iraq. Also, in global matters, they celebrated the work done in the Community of Democracies forum, where Chile and the United States have shared, since the creation of this group, a variety of values and principles aiming to strengthen and promote democracy in the world.

As per regional matters, both parties emphasized the importance of the region in the stabilization and reconstruction of Haiti, where Chile has maintained an important contingent of soldiers and police officers since the very beginning of the crisis in February 2004.

Chile-U.S. Defense Consultative Committee Meeting

These meetings take place at the level of defense ministers, with the participation of senior officers of the armed forces branches. The last one occurred in 2001, at which they analyzed and put into practice a series of military cooperation programs, highlighting the effect of operations on peacekeeping, removal of landmines, purchases and services, and the environment in regards to defense, among others. They also considered exchange programs in the training of civilians in defense, and other issues in the area of science and technology, including radar, optronics systems, unarmed aircraft, short-range missiles, exchanges, and visits, as well as other topics.

Consultative Committee on Political and Strategic Affairs

Annual meetings at the level of senior foreign affairs officials are held to discuss political and strategic affairs and other issues that are related to arms control and non-proliferation, hemisphere security, international peacekeeping operations, revision of military programs and matter of common interest in these fields. The last meeting was held in Santiago, in May 2004.

Diplomatic Academy

Within the framework of the Annual Meeting of Directors of Diplomatic Academies, the relationship between the Academia Diplomática de Chile Andrés Bello, and the U.S. Foreign Service Institute has grown into a close communication. One of the matters that attracted the attention of both institutions was the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. In fact, representatives of the FSI attended a workshop in Viña del Mar organized by the Academia Diplomática, where they presented the U.S. vision of the agreement as well as its importance for the region.

Also regarding the FTA, the Academia Diplomática prepared a special issue of its magazine, “Diplomacia”, dedicated to the agreement. Articles from the highest authorities of both countries were collected, all of which expressed the value of the accomplishments made and recognized the contribution of each of the actors involved in the negotiations.

Environment

The Foreign Ministry of Chile and the United States Department of State organized bilateral environmental consultations that were held in Santiago in October of 2002 and in Washington in October of 2003. These meetings were co-chaired by their environmental authorities and included representatives from different government agencies, who discussed environmental topics of current mutual interest, including those issues pertaining to the international environmental agreements and agenda.

In accordance with the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the bilateral Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA), the two governments celebrated the first meetings of the Environmental Affairs Council and the U.S.-Chile Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation; these meetings were held jointly on July 22, 2004, in Santiago. Upon this occasion, the governments considered the implementation of the FTA and the ECA. In addition, they started the development of the Work Program 2005-2006 for environmental cooperation under the ECA, which is currently being implemented.

http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/43756.htm

Fisheries Cooperation Talks

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Chilean National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA) and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), both countries have exchanged information on the topic, and their respective delegations have met periodically to review their cooperative program, as well as other fishery issues of mutual interest. The last meeting was held in July of 2004, in Juneau, Alaska, during which the parties examined and exchanged information on topics such as fisheries research; enforcement, management and regulatory schemes; aquaculture; marine protected areas; and multilateral issues (FAO, CITES, APEC). Also, they renewed the 1995 MOU for an additional period of 10 years.

Multilateral consultations

Chile and the United States have a very fluid, positive and constructive dialogue in multilateral affairs. For that reason, the last time Chile participated as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2003-2004), consultations were scheduled in December 2002 in order to revise the agenda of United Nations and the areas where both nations could strengthen their collaboration. Both delegations shared their visions about the organization, as well as about the importance of enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism worldwide.

Policy Planning

This is a consultation mechanism among the directors of Policy Planning of the Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile to promote the discussion on matters of mutual interest. The meetings are not set regularly, but rather when the directors feel that it would be beneficial to hold one.

Science and Technology

The U.S.-Chile Basic Agreement Related to Scientific and Technological Cooperation includes the mechanism of a Joint Committee on Science and Technology. At the last meeting held in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2004, both delegations confirmed the important role of science and technology; examined the ties and cooperation being developed between public and private entities of both countries, and discussed the potential for further cooperative bilateral activities. Areas of special interest include astronomy, space science and technology, health, agriculture and biotechnology, standards and metrology, material science, information and communication technology, training needs and opportunities, geosciences and oceanography, monitoring technologies, methane hydrates and geothermal energy.