ARGENTINA: STAFFDEL MEETING WITH MFA ON AMIA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002805

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

WHA FOR A/S SHANNON, DAS DUDDY, DMCCARTHY
WHA/BSC FOR BARNES, FRIEDMAN, MOSS
NEA/IR FOR HWOOSTER
S/CT FOR VIRGINIA PALMER AND ARNOLD SIERRA
NSC FOR JUAN ZARATE AND JOSE CARDENAS
FBI FOR CTD IRAN-HIZBALLAH UNIT AND OIO AMERICAS UNIT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KJUS AR FBI
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: STAFFDEL MEETING WITH MFA ON AMIA,
TRI-BORDER; LATEST AMIA DEVELOPMENTS

REF: BUENOS AIRES 2749

Classified By: DCM Michael Matera for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 19 DCM, Emboffs, and visiting
Staffdel members met with Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
Luis Cappagli to discuss the recent Interpol response to the
AMIA case and tri-border issues. Staffdel members underlined
the importance of responding to INTERPOL Secretary General
Nobel's invitation to meet with him in Lyon on December 22 to
discuss the case and not to leave the field open to Iran.
Cappagli said that Argentina would be asking for the meeting
to be held on another date, perhaps in January 2007.
Cappagli said the GoA was surprised that the red notices
requested for the AMIA case were not approved and still does
not know the purpose or the details of the proposed December
22 meeting at Interpol Lyon. Cappagli told DCM privately
after the meeting that Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and
Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez would be meeting on the
evening of December 19 to discuss the wording of the GoA's
response to SG Nobel. (Buenos Aires INTERPOL chief told
Legatt on December 20 that Argentina would not attend the
meeting and that they were seeking an alternative date.)
Staffdel met earlier that day with AMIA prosecutors and
expressed strong U.S. support for the case. Cappagli said
that the GoA is satisfied with the progress in the tri-border
region and believes it is moving in the right direction with
regard to cooperation and intelligence sharing. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On December 19 DCM, Legatt, poloff, and visiting
HIRC Staff Director Mark Walker, HIRC Subcommittee on Western
Hemisphere staffer Brian Wanko, and HIRC Investigative
Counsel John Mackey met with Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Luis Cappagli to discuss the recent Interpol response
to the AMIA case. Cappagli was accompanied by Ambassador
Guillermo Gonzalez, MFA acting Director of Counterterrorism
Gustavo Urrutia, and MFA North
Americas Deputy Director Jose Ureta. Staffdel members
underlined the importance of responding to INTERPOL Secretary
General Nobel's invitation to meet with him in Lyon on
December 22 to discuss the case and not to leave the field
open to Iran. Mackey also praised the GoA for its tenacity
in pursuing justice in the AMIA case, expressed the strong
Congressional intrest in the case as well as his own
impressions that the recently released prosecutors' report
was much stronger and more convincing than the earlier report
of Judge Galeano. Cappagli said that Argentina would be
asking for the meeting to be held on another date, perhaps in
January 2007.


3. (C) Cappagli said the GoA was surprised that the red
notices requested for the AMIA case were not approved and
still does not know the purpose or the details of the
proposed December 22 meeting at Interpol Lyon. Cappagli
cautioned against using the word postponement when asking for
the meeting's date to be changed to avoid implying that
Interpol has any judicial power over the case. He said the
GoA is upset at the precedent that has been set by SG Nobel's
request for a meeting.


4. (C) Cappagli told DCM privately after the meeting that
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and Interior Minister Anibal
Fernandez would be meeting on the evening of December 19 to
discuss the specific wording of the GoA's response to SG
Nobel, although Cappagli did not know if this response would
be oral or written. He said the message would come from the
Interior Ministry.


5. (C) Cappagli and Urrutia commented briefly on the
progress in the tri-border region of Argentina. Both said
the GoA is pleased with the positive progress that has been
made in recent years. Urrutia said he believes they are
moving in the right direction and that the border controls

between Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina are increasing.
Mackey noted the Staffdel had just visited the tri-border
region and was impressed with the progress that had been
made, though much remains to be done.


6. (C) Staffdel, accompanied by Emboffs, also met December
19 with AMIA prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martinez
Burgos to discuss the AMIA case. Nisman briefed Staffdel on
details of the case and the indictments. Mackey expressed
strong U.S. support and interest in the case. He urged the
prosecutors and the GoA to be proactive in their dealings
with Interpol.


7. (C) On December 20, Alejandro DiNizo, chief of INTERPOL
Buenos Aires advised Embassy Legatt that earlier in the
morning INTERPOL Buenos Aires sent a message to INTERPOL Lyon
advising that Argentina would not attend the meeting convoked
by SG Noble for December 22. DiNizo advised that alternate
dates were being discussed with Lyon.
WAYNE