Embassy of Chile in the United States of America		Winter in Santiago, Metropolitan Region
N^o 1, June 2005
"We can contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, to building a future that is more democratic, with more growth, social integration, freedom and cultural diversity". (Acceptance speech. May 2nd.www.oas.org) RECOMMENDED Visit the new web page of the Economic Department of the Embassy of Chile www.chileusafta.com	POLITICS Who is the new Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza? José Miguel Insulza, Chile's Interior Minister since 2000, was elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States on May 2. A gifted negotiator and dedicated public servant, José Miguel Insulza assumed the position of Secretary General on May 26. In his inaugural speech he started saying: "The OAS should aspire to be an Organization adept at anticipating and dealing with crises that affect the region's stability and thus do our part to shape a world that is a safer place to live in". He added that the member states must agree on mechanisms to implement the obligations set forth in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the effective application of which he described as "indispensable for the future of our democracies." Insulza was born in 1943 and is married to Mexican sociologist Georgina Núñez. He studied Law at the University of Chile and later received a Master of Arts in Social Science from the Latin American Social Sciences Faculty (FLACSO) and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan. He subsequently taught both at the University of Chile and the Catholic University of Chile in Santiago. Until 1973, the new leader of the OAS served as Political Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Chile. After the military coup in 1973, he lived in Rome until 1980. From 1981 until 1988, during his exile in Mexico, he was a researcher at the United States Studies Institute in the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, of which he later became Director. In parallel, Insulza taught at Mexico's Universidad Nacional Autónoma, Universidad Iberoamericana, and Instituto de Estudios Diplomáticos Matías Romero. During the administration of former President Patricio Aylwin, Insulza served as Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1994, President Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle appointed him Minister of Foreign Affairs, position which he held until 1999 when he was appointed Minister Secretary General of the Presidency.

	ECONOMY Chile Ranks Among the World's Most Competitive Countries In the 2005 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, Chile moved from place 26 to place 19 among the 60 countries included. Chile was the best ranked Latin American country followed by Colombia (47), Brazil (51), Mexico (56), Argentina (58), and Venezuela (60). The report ranked the United States as the most competitive economy in the world, ahead of Hong Kong and Singapore. The index ranks countries based on their economic performance, the efficiency of both government and business, and infrastructure quality.

	Economy on the Rise During the first quarter of 2005, Chile's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.7 percent with respect to the same period in the previous year. At the same time, gross fixed investment soared by 26.1 per cent. Thus, the Chilean economy is likely to maintain the strong growth it achieved in 2004, when GDP rose 6.1 percent. Indeed, in its recently released Monetary Report the Central Bank expects GDP to increase between 5.25 and 6.25 percent in 2005. The Bank also forecasts that inflation will close at 2.8 per cent at the end of the year, within its target range of 2-4 per cent. Merchandise exports would reach US$ 37 billion in 2005 (up from US$ 32 billion in 2004) while imports would rise to US$ 28 billion (up from US$ 23 billion).

	AWARDS Ceremony at Duke University: President Lagos Receives his Sixth Doctorate Honoris Causa On May 15th President Ricardo Lagos received his sixth Doctorate Honoris Causa, this time from Duke University, where he had earned a PhD in Economics in 1966. At the ceremony, Duke University President, Richard Broadhead, introduced him as "A major international figure in human rights and the democratically elected president of a major country." President Lagos centered his commencement address to the Duke's graduating class on the growing need to utilize globalization as a tool for improving human rights and extend democracy worldwide. To that end, the President stressed repeatedly the necessity of establishing international mechanisms to generate public goods such as respect for human rights, the protection of the environment, and the defeat of poverty. "In that way -he argued- we will also be combating the instability, inequality, and injustice that are a breeding ground for terror and insecurity on a global scale."

	Ambassador Bianchi Elected "Diplomat of the Year'' The Los Angeles World Affairs Council bestowed upon Chilean Ambassador to the United States, Andrés Bianchi, its 2005 "Diplomat of the Year" Award in a gala ceremony was on April 21st which was attended by 150 members of the Council. This important recognition was created in 1990 and has been awarded to the Ambassadors of Australia, Germany, China, France, Great Britain, Israel, Japan and Russia, among other countries. The World Affairs Council is a highly prestigious institution whose membership includes leading entrepreneurs, business people, academics, and public opinion leaders from Southern California. The Council's Director, Robert Eckert, General Manager of Mattel, emphasized the key role played by Ambassador Bianchi in the process leading to the approval of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Chile, as well as in furthering the bilateral relations between the two countries. Ambassador Bianchi concluded his acceptance speech saying: "I sincerely believe that the award with which you are honoring me tonight represents much more a recognition to the accomplishments and merits of Chile and its people than to any contributions I may have made to strengthen and improve our relations with the United States".

	GASTRONOMY BOOK Tasting Chile: A celebration of authentic Chilean foods and wines By Daniel Joelson "Tasting Chile contains 140 traditional recipes from home chefs and restaurants from across this South American country, spanning a variety of dishes that ranges from spicy salsas and hearty soups to the ubiquitous empanada and desserts such as sweet cream cr^epes...."

	JUNE SCHEDULE ü June 5^th: Washington Restaurants Awards Gala. Chilean wines will be served at this important event. ü June 5^th to 7^th: OAS, XXXV Regular Session of the General Assembly. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will chair the meeting that will bring together foreign ministers of the Americas. ü June 8^th: "Chile on Film". Summer Series. "Loco's Fever" ("La Fiebre del Loco"), by Andrés Wood. In Spanish with English subtitles. Embassy of Chile. 6:30. Free admission. Reservations: cultural@embassyofchile.org or 202 530-4118. ü June 15^th: "Chile on Film". "El Leyton", by Gonzalo Justiniano. In Spanish with English subtitles. Embassy of Chile. 6:30. Free admission. Reservations: cultural@embassyofchile.org or 202 530-4118. ü June 22^nd: "Chile on Film". "B Happy", by Gonzalo Justiniano. In Spanish with English subtitles. Embassy of Chile. 6:30. Free admission. Reservations: cultural@embassyofchile.org or 202 530-4118. ü June 28^thto 30^th: Official visit of Chilean Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet. Meeting with US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. ü June 29^th: "Chile on Film". "A Cab for Three", by Orlando Lubbert. In Spanish with English subtitles. Embassy of Chile. 6:30. Free admission. Reservations: cultural@embassyofchile.org or 202 530-4118.
Embassy of Chile 1732 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Washington DC. 20036 Phone: (202) 785 1746. Press Office: (202) 530 4113 We are also on the web www.chile-usa.org