ARGENTINA: AMIA DICUSSES INTERPOL GA VOTE STRATEGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001802 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA FOR A/S SHANNON AND DAS MCMULLEN, WHA/BSC FOR DRUCKER, FRIEDMAN, AND MOSS; NEA/IR FOR HWOOSTER; S/CT FOR VIRGINIA PALMER AND ARNOLD SIERRA; NSC FOR JUAN ZARATE AND DAN FISK; FBI FOR CTD IRAN-HIZBALLAH UNIT AND OIO AMERICAS UNIT E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2027 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KJUS AR FBI SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: AMIA DICUSSES INTERPOL GA VOTE STRATEGY WITH AMBASSADOR REF: BUENOS AIRES 1681 Classified By: AMBASSADOR E. ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. On September 4, Ambassador Wayne met with the President of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) Luis Grynwald and other AMIA officials to discuss AMIA's strategy to ensure that the INTERPOL General Assembly (GA) votes to uphold its Executive Committee's (EC) decision to issue "Red Notices" (international capture notices) for six suspects involved in the 1994 terrorist bombing of the AMIA center. Grynwald explained that the AMIA is intensely lobbying and educating the diplomatic community about the incident itself, the GOA's investigation, and the Interpol EC decision to issue Red Notices. He calculated that Iran will likely have the votes of the Muslim world and expressed concern that Iran may be "buying votes" through offers of financial assistance, particularly in Africa. Grynwald indicated that strong USG support of the Argentina's effort to seek justice for the perpetrators of this attack would "go a long way" in convincing other countries to vote in favor of upholding the EC decision. The Ambassador stressed that Argentina should take the lead in rallying support and asserted that the USG will continue to support Argentina's pursuit of justice. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Wayne met with AMIA President Luis Grynwald, Vice President Jose Kestelman, and Secretary General Edgardo Gorenberg to discuss AMIA's strategy to lobby the international community ahead of the November Interpol GA vote on whether to uphold an EC decision to issue Red Notices for six suspects implicated in the 1994 terrorist bombing of the AMIA center. Grynwald outlined AMIA's previous efforts to lobby the thirteen countries that make up the Interpol Executive Committee to secure the initial decision to issue the Red Notices against six Iranian officials and one Hizballah leader. He noted, however, that the GA vote presents a bigger challenge given that the GOA and the AMIA now has to lobby 186 countries, many of which are not familiar with the case. He stated that Iran is aggressively lobbying countries to vote against Argentina and calculated that Iran will likely have the votes of the Muslim world. He also expressed concern that Iran may be "buying votes" through offers of financial assistance, particularly in Africa. (Comment: Grynwald did not provide specific examples of GOI lobbying efforts.) He stated that South Africa could play a key role and needs to be firmly on board. ¶3. (C) LEGATT suggested that Iran did not necessarily have a lock on the Muslim vote given the intense sectarian differences between Sunni and Shiite states. LEGATT also reassured Grynwald that Argentina's case is strong, especially given that Interpol's Legal Counsel and Executive Committee both recommended in favor of issuing the Red Notices. He explained that on the day of the vote, the Executive Committee will give a presentation on the issue including the Legal Committee's opinion on the matter, which will carry more weight. Iran will be given 15 minutes to respond followed by a brief period for discussion. Interpol GA votes must be cast in person and not all countries will likely attend the meeting due to budgetary constraints, he explained. There must be a simple majority at the Interpol GA in order for the EC decision to stand, LEGATT stated. ¶4. (C) Grynwald stated that AMIA has prepared a dossier in English and in Spanish explaining the issue to present to the various Ambassadors to Argentina in the hopes that they will report the issue back to their capitals. He indicated that the Portuguese Ambassador, as head of the EU in Argentina, offered to host a meeting with all 29 EU Ambassadors in Argentina, and that the Panamanian Ambassador has offered to do the same with the Latin American Ambassadors. He claimed that President Kirchner intends to raise the issue at the UN General Assembly in late September urging sanctions against Iran. He also indicated that the Argentine MFA is organizing a meeting in New York to raise the issue with other governments. Israeli Ambassadors, the American Jewish Congress, and Jewish communities in other countries are also lobbying the international community. Grynwald indicated that strong USG support of Argentina's effort to seek justice for the perpetrators of this attack would "go a long way" in convincing other countries to vote in favor of upholding the EC decision. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador stressed that the USG is ready to assist the Government of Argentina's efforts to rally support ahead of the Interpol GA vote, but that it is best for the GOA to take the lead in making its case before the international community. He told Grynwald that the the U.S. Embassy has remained in close contact with the MFA and the Ministry of Interior on the case and has offered USG assistance in organizing presentations for countries where Argentina does not have a diplomatic presence. The Ambassador reassured Grynwald and his colleagues that U.S. support for the GOA's pursuit of justice in the AMIA case will be firm and clear. WAYNE