Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2665
2006-11-30 18:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

AMIA UPDATE: AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH MFA'S

Tags:  PTER KJUS PREL PGOV AR FBI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2665 3341852
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301852Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6641
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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)

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