MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

President Bachelet discusses Free Trade in Australia

PM John Howard with Pte. Michelle Bachelet

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet met Thursday with Australian Prime Minister John Howard to discuss further rounds of negotiations concerning an eventual Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

The first rounds of trade talks were held earlier in August, when both parties agreed to further explore a possible FTA. Some observers speculate that the current talks between the two leaders might kick off the next rounds. Bachelet appeared up-beat about relations between the two nations. "We are seeing a lot of advancement in specific areas of cooperation where Chile and Australia will reach important goals," Bachelet said after the meeting. Bachelet signed a FTA with Japan earlier in the Asian trip, and Chile's delegation will continue talking trade issues at the APEC summit. One of Bachelet's first commitments at that summit will be a so-called "breakfast of champions," which will unite Chilean and Australian business leaders at the APEC Business Advisory Council. Present at the breakfast will be CODELCO Executive President José Pablo Arellano and Financial Institutes President Hernán Somerville, among others. On a related note, Chile's conservative daily La Tercera reported Thursday that the Supreme Court's highly anticipated verdict on the Fujimori extradition case was delayed so not to disturb the upcoming bilateral talks between Chile and Peru at the APEC meeting, where officials from both countries are set to meet Saturday. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori is facing possible extradition to Peru where he is likely to face trial for numerous, including state-sponsored massacres. Supreme Court Judge Alberto Chaigneau took a medical leave of absence this week, meaning the Court will meet again this next Monday and most likely announce its verdict. This is the same day Bachelet returns from Sydney. Alejandro Foxley, Chile's Foreign Minister, Tuesday denied that the Fujimori, who has dual Peruvian and Japanese citizenship, was discussed in Japan, or that the case would be the subject of discussion during talks between Chile and Peru. Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Tomas Hirsch said Thursday he believes there is a connection between Fujimori and big international business. "I don't think the signature on the FTA between Chile and Japan was dependent on the Fujimori case. But, in my opinion, there are trans-national groups who are trying to hinder Fujimori's extradition to secure the FTA," said Hirsch. The Santiago Times