(C) SUPPORTING THE AMIA TERROR INVESTIGATION AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000422 SIPDIS SIPDIS P FOR U/S BURNS, WHA FOR A/S SHANNON, L FOR JOHN BELLINGER, FBI FOR MICHAEL MASON AND OIO FOR TOM FUENTES, DOJ FOR ALICE FISHER AND BRUCE SWARTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KJUS AR FBI SUBJECT: (C) SUPPORTING THE AMIA TERROR INVESTIGATION AT INTERPOL Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) In anticipation of a senior level interagency meeting early this week, I would like to restate the importance of the USG supporting the efforts of Argentina's prosecutors to pursue justice in the 1994 AMIA terrorist bombing case. I understand the need for full debate of the sensitive issues that emerged recently in discussions of the AMIA case and the GOA request for issuance of Red Notices for those indicted in the GOA judicial investigation. However, we are at a crucial juncture, and I hope that we will be able to provide a positive response to the Argentine's request for our support in backing up their requests to Interpol. The Argentine prosecutors and the Foreign and Interior Ministries continue to seek our active support before and at the March 13-15 Executive Committee meeting as crucial to their ultimate success in having the Red Notices issued. Iran is working hard here to discredit the case and the prosecutors, supported by Argentine leftists with ties to Chavez. ¶2. (C) From our perspective in Buenos Aires, it would appear that Interpol General Counsel's recommendation not to support issuance of Red Notices for the three most sensitive indictees -- and the Argentines' acceptance of this compromise -- will hopefully allow us to move forward rapidly with the issuance of a demarche cable to our embassies in Executive Committee member countries. The Argentines have been raising the issue with local Ambassadors and via diplomatic channels, but they note to us that they do not have the same quality of access that we have to a number of Executive Committee member governments, and especially to those governments' law enforcement officials. ¶3. (C) In this connection, if there is a positive USG decision to support the Interpol General Counsel's recommendation to support issuance of Red Notices for the six remaining indictees, we should seriously consider deploying our Legal Attaches to contact the Executive Committee representatives, who are, in fact, the LegAtts' law enforcement referents in the countries with Executive Committee representatives. They can convey our support for the Interpol General Counsel's recommendations and offer to provide background information and answer any questions. WAYNE