Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUENOSAIRES804
2007-04-25 13:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

ARGENTINA: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DAIA

Tags:  PGOV PREL AR VZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0804/01 1151302
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251302Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7952
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1209
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0202
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0038
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000804 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/BSC FOR FRIEDMAN AND BLAKENEY
GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE
VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR VZ
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DAIA

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000804

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/BSC FOR FRIEDMAN AND BLAKENEY
GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE
VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR VZ
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DAIA


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On April 19, Ambassador Wayne met with
the President and several board members of the Delegation of
Israeli and Argentine Associations (DAIA),the political
representative of the Argentine Jewish community with a
specific focus on preserving human rights, eradicating
anti-Semitism, discrimination, and highlighting the threat of
terrorism. The Ambassador recognized DAIA's role and the
importance of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive and
noted the important relationship between the U.S. Holocaust
Museum and its Argentine counterpart. The Ambassador also
recognized DAIA for its valuable support to human rights and
religious freedom in Argentina and its unflagging efforts to
keep alive the memory of the victims of the bombings of the
Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the AMIA center in 1994 and to
bring the perpetrators of both attacks to justice. DAIA
Secretary General Edgardo Waissbein, who attended the Latin

SIPDIS
America Jewish Congress in Caracas in March, described a
fearful and isolated Venezuelan Jewish community. END
SUMMARY.

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Common Agenda
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2. (SBU) On April 19, Ambassador Wayne met with DAIA
President Aldo Donzis and two other board members from the
Delegation of Israeli and Argentine Associations (DAIA),a
non-profit organization that serves as the political
representative of the Argentine Jewish community with a
specific focus on preserving human rights, combating
terrorist threats, and eradicating anti-Semitism,
discrimination, and the persecution of minors. The
Ambassador opened the meeting by recognizing Holocaust
Memorial Day, and noting the importance of keeping this
memory alive in the hopes of avoiding future crimes against
humanity. He also highlighted that the U.S. Holocaust Museum
has an ongoing relationship with its Argentine counterpart
and is providing funding and technical assistance to protect
and archive valuable historical documents concerning the
stories of Holocaust survivors, the Jewish exodus to
Argentina, and life of the Jewish community in Argentina.


3. (SBU) The DAIA representatives thanked the U.S. for the
valuable cooperation between the U.S. and Argentine Holocaust
museums. DAIA president Aldo Donzis said that most people do
not comprehend all that occurred during the Holocaust, argued
the importance of constantly denouncing those atrocities, and
expressed concern that governments that do not fully
understand the Holocaust could represent a threat to global
stability.


4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted the Embassy's historically
close relationship with DAIA and praised DAIA's shared
commitment to protecting and improving human rights. He
expressed appreciation for DAIA's cooperation in providing
input for the Embassy's annual Human Rights and Religious
Freedom reports.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador also recognized DAIA's unflagging
efforts to keep alive the memory of the victims of the
terrorist bombings of the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the
AMIA center in 1994 and to bring the perpetrators of both to
justice. He added that the USG continues to support
Argentina's efforts in seeking justice for these cases.

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Jewish Community in Venezuela
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6. (SBU) DAIA Secretary General Edgardo Waissbein described
his recent visit in March to Caracas where he took part in
the Latin American Jewish Congress. He relayed the briefing
by a prominent exiled political analyst, who presented the
results of a recent survey that showed that while 90% of
Venezuelans support Chavez, a majority of them do not agree
with his policies toward the Jewish Community, his
relationship with Cuba's Fidel Castro, his managing of
bilateral relations with the U.S., and the adoption of
Socialism. Waissbein also said the 15,000-strong Jewish
community in Venezuela is afraid of the BRV's growing
friendship with Iran and described increasing incidents of
anti-Jewish graffiti in Venezuela. Because of this fear, he
said, the Venezuelan Jewish community remains isolated, with
much of the younger generation having little or no contact
with the non-Jewish community.
WAYNE