AG GONZALES'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF JUSTICE IRIBARNE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000302 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS USDOJ FOR AAG ALICE FISHER AND DAG BRUCE SWARTZ E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SNAR SCUL AR SUBJECT: AG GONZALES'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF JUSTICE IRIBARNE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Attorney General (AG),senior USDOJ officials, and the Ambassador met with the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Alberto Iribarne and Secretary of Justice Marcela Losardo on February 7 to exchange views on USG and GOA efforts to combat transnational crime, such as terrorism financing, money-laundering and human trafficking. The Minister also outlined GOA judicial reform efforts, and the AG offered technical assistance to bolster Argentine prosecutors' trial advocacy skills. They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. Finally, the Minister raised the case of an Argentine citizen on death row in Texas, and the AG assured the Minister that he would relay those concerns to Texan officials. END SUMMARY. GOA EFFORTS TO COMBAT MONEY-LAUNDERING/TERRORISM FINANCING ¶2. (SBU) On February 7, the Attorney General (AG),Assistant AG Alice Fisher, and other senior USDOJ officials and the Ambassador met with the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Alberto Iribarne and Secretary of Justice Marcela Losardo. The Minister began by highlighting recent GOA efforts to combat terrorism financing and money laundering. He noted that the Kirchner administration had recently submitted draft legislation that would criminalize terrorism financing, and predicted that the bill would pass within the next few months. The MOJ has also spearheaded the effort to develop a multi-pronged plan that would unite and coordinate the efforts of twenty different government agencies to fight money laundering. The GOA is also in the midst of restructuring and streamlining the agency responsible of investigating money-laundering activities. The Minister also thanked the Ambassador for his letter praising his selection of a new chief of the financial crimes investigation unit (FIU). TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ¶3. (SBU) Turning to a discussion on trafficking in persons, the AG noted that the President has a personal interest in fighting human trafficking. The Minister asserted that the GOA was also very concerned about this issue. Several bills have been introduced in the Argentine Congress to criminalize trafficking in persons, and the Minister stated that he expected a bill to pass both houses soon. The Minister stressed that the issue needs to be addressed regionally and stated that he had discussed the issue at a recent regional Ministerial meeting. The AG stressed the importance of providing assistance to victims who are almost always undocumented immigrants. The Minister stated that the GOA shares this concern. AG OFFERS ASSISTANCE FOR GOA JUDICIAL REFORM EFFORTS ¶4. (SBU) Judicial reform is the Minister's highest priority project a key GOA objective, the Minister asserted, noting that the GOA is currently transitioning from an inquisitorial to an accusatorial judicial system. The AG stated that the USG remains committed to assisting the GOA in its legal reform efforts and offered to train Argentine prosecutors in trial advocacy for complex prosecutions and in prosecuting intellectual property crimes. The Minister thanked the AG for the assistance. The Minister also told the AG about the Kirchner administration's efforts to gradually downsize the Argentine Supreme Court from nine to five justices. The administration has plans ready for a broader set of judicial reforms; however, the issue got bogged down in a general debate about crime and the need for comprehensive reforms of Argentina's legal code, especially sensitive in an election year. Despite these setbacks, there is widespread agreement on the need for, and the desired direction, of legal and judicial reform, the Minister maintained. ¶5. (SBU) The AG then asked whether Argentina had significant problems with prison overcrowding and prison gangs. The Minister responded that Argentina does not have a significant problem with prison gangs yet, but that the problem is growing. Argentina's primary gang problem is related to narco-traffickers, the Minister stated. VICTOR SALDANO: ARGENTINE CITIZEN ON DEATH ROW IN TEXAS ¶6. (SBU) In addition to discussing these issues of shared concern, the Minister stressed the Argentine government's concern regarding the situation of Victor Hugo Saldano, an Argentine citizen sitting on death row in a Texas prison. The AG told the Minister that he was aware of the case and personally familiar with the Texan system for dealing with capital punishment. He assured the Minister that he would relay the GOA's concerns to state officials in Texas. AG OFFERS MLAT CONSULTATIONS AND OTHER TRAINING ASSISTANCE ¶7. (SBU) The AG, the Ambassador, and the Minister also explored ways to improve bilateral cooperation under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. LEGATT noted that the GOA currently has over 600 requests for legal assistance while the USG only has 60. While both sides agreed that the system was generally working well, the AG stated that the USG wants to strengthen bilateral cooperation on MLAT issues. To that end, the AG offered to send an official from USDOJ's Office of International Affairs for MLAT consultations as well as organize a workshop to train GOA officials on how to prepare MLAT applications and extradition requests. The Minister expressed appreciation. ¶8. (U) The Attorney General has not cleared on the language of this cable. WAYNE