AMB WAYNE MEETS WITH PROSECUTOR GENERAL RIGHI IN

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000278 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL AR PTER SUBJECT: AMB WAYNE MEETS WITH PROSECUTOR GENERAL RIGHI IN ANTICIPATION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALEZ VISIT ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Argentine Prosecutor General Righi told Ambassador Wayne that he welcomes USG training on the adversarial system of criminal justice for his prosecutors and supports increased cooperation on the preparation of extradition requests. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) In a friendly first meeting with Ambassador on February 5, Prosecutor General Esteban Righi welcomed the visit to Buenos Aires later the same week of his U.S. counterpart, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Righi stated that while their jobs were similar, AG Gonzales had additional law enforcement functions that he lacked. Essentially, Righi overseas a team of independent prosecutors and controls the budget for their prosecutions. Oversight of law enforcement officers similar to U.S. equivalents of FBI or DEA agents is entrusted to the Minister of the Interior in Argentina. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne noted the cooperation between Argentina and the United States with the AMIA bombing investigation led by Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Prosecutor General responded that he lacks oversight of that investigation; his role is limited to providing funds to support the investigation, which he has done. Further, Righi said that he recused himself from the AMIA prosecution because his former law firm represents the former head of the Secretariat of Intelligence (SIDE),Dr. Hugo Anzorreguy, who was indicted for alleged misconduct in the original AMIA investigation. (Note: it was alleged that the original investigating judge in the AMIA case, Judge Galeano, personally requested Anzorreguy to have SIDE pay USD400,000 to a key AMIA witness Telledin. Anzorreguy was alleged to have agreed and authorized SIDE subordinates to make payment with SIDE funds.) ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne asked Righi where the USG might be able to assist Argentina's judicial reform efforts. Righi proffered that training on the adversarial system of criminal justice is needed as Argentina transitions away from the inquisitorial system of justice. LEGATT Godoy suggested that advice regarding the U.S. system of plea bargains could also be beneficial. Righi agreed commenting that narcotafficking and public corruption investigations are particularly difficult in the absence of a plea bargain system. Similarly, increased cooperation with extraditions is needed, stated Righi, as Argentina develops greater separation between prosecutors and judges. This effort, stated Righi, is now being led by the Minister of Justice. ¶5. (SBU) Righi remarked that the transition to a U.S.-style criminal justice system would reduce pretrial delay arising from lengthy investigations. These pretrial delays have an adverse impact on public opinion of the judiciary and the justice system generally in Argentina. Such changes, however, must not be explained to the public as a response to crime, but instead as institutional reforms that would make justice in Argentina more efficient and transparent. WAYNE