AMIA UPDATE: AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH MFA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002665 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA FOR A/S SHANNON, DAS DUDDY, DMCCARTHY WHA/BSC FOR BARNES, FRIEDMAN, MOSS NEA/IR FOR HWOOSTER S/CT FOR ARNOLD SIERRA NSC FOR JOSE CARDENAS FBI FOR CTD IRAN-HIZBALLAH UNIT AND OIO AMERICAS UNIT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016 TAGS: PTER KJUS PREL PGOV AR FBI SUBJECT: AMIA UPDATE: AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH MFA'S AMIA COORDINATOR Classified By: Ambassador Wayne for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) At a November 28, event, Ambassador and DCM spoke with Ambassador Guillermo Gonzalez, Senior Advisor to Deputy Foreign Minister, Roberto Garcia Moritan, about the MFA's perspective on the AMIA case. Ambassador Gonzalez has been charged with managing AMIA at the MFA. He said the MFA is still being very cautious, taking a step by step approach. He relayed that Foreign Minister Taiana had earlier that day called from Europe and was still very concerned about how to handle the case. Gonzalez sees a big challenge as being the lack of internal government coordination, as there is no regular means of coordination between ministries, and particularly with the Interior Ministry. ¶2. (C) Gonzalez said he favors reaching out to other countries but wasn't sure when this would happen. In order to build support among Interpol Executive Committee members, he said it would certainly be necessary to reach out diplomatically before the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting in March, if not earlier. The DCM told him that the U.S. was still hoping that Interpol would adhere to its own standard procedures and issue Red Notices before the March meeting. Gonzalez asked for any further information the U.S. may have on our efforts to this effect. ¶3. (C) Gonzalez said that he had read the entire 800 pages of the prosecutors' report and agreed that while the report is now much stronger than (Judge) Galeano's report several years ago, it still has "weak points" on evidence. DCM noted that the investigation is ongoing and that additional evidence is being gathered and leads followed. ¶4. (C) Also on November 28, Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral met with the Iranian Charge, Mohsen Baharvand, at Baharvand's request. Gonzalez told the Ambassador that the MFA felt it best to let Iran present their concerns and let them feel that they are being heard, but that the GOA must respond appropriately. He said he had called Corral prior to the meeting with Baharvand and encouraged him to include family members of victims in the meeting, which the Judge did. Gonzalez said the meeting was tense but polite and that the Iranian Charge provided a rebuttal of charges in the indictments. Press reports of the meeting indicate a seemingly more moderate Iranian line and that the Charge had been pleased with the meeting. The press generally portrayed the meeting positively as the first concrete step taken by Iran. The press has also reported on the MFA's written response to the complaint lodged by the GoI with Argentina's Charge in Tehran over the indictments. The MFA's response, Gonzalez said, focused on the separation and independence of powers in Argentina and provided a lesson in republican governance more than anything else. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Gonzalez's designation as the MFA's lead on AMIA is a positive step. The GOA is heartened by statements of support from other countries thus far. These certainly provide a comfort level that helps the GOA in its efforts to move forward. But, according to Gonzalez, the GOA does not foesee soliciting any more of these statements at the moment. We did not outline for Gonzalez the USG's own plans to quietly solicit this support from appropriate governments, but continue to believe we should move forward as more of these statements would be welcomed in Buenos Aires. Post appreciates Department keeping us apprised of these efforts. DCM will meet with Gonzalez on November 30 to follow up on the November 28 conversation. End Comment. WAYNE