MEETINGS WITH ARGENTINE INTERIOR MINISTER AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000862

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

WHA FOR PDAS SHAPIRO AND DAS DUDDY
WHA/BSC FOR BARNES, FRIEDMAN, AND BLAKENEY
WHA/PPC FOR PUCCETTI
G/TIP FOR BARBARA FLECK
NEA/IR FOR HWOOSTER
S/CT FOR VIRGINIA PALMER AND ARNOLD SIERRA
NSC FOR JUAN ZARATE AND JOSE CARDENAS
FBI FOR CTD IRAN-HIZBALLAH UNIT AND OIO AMERICAS UNIT
DHS FOR ICE A/S JULIE MYERS
DHS FOR OIA KEVIN O'REILLY
FBI FOR THOMAS V. FUENTES, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY
GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG KWMN PGOV
KJUS, FBI, AR
SUBJECT: MEETINGS WITH ARGENTINE INTERIOR MINISTER AND
AMIA/DAIA LEADERSHIP ON AMIA AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

REF: BUENOS AIRES 838

Classified By: E. ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) On April 30, Minister of Interior Anibal Fernandez met
for over an hour with the Ambassador, FBI Special Agent in
Charge (SAC) of International Operations, Tom Fuentes and
LEGATT to discuss trafficking in persons, upcoming USG
training programs, and next steps on the AMIA case. Minister
Fernandez expressed interest in a briefing on how the USG
coordinates law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking in
persons, and Fuentes agreed to arrange a briefing during
Fernandez,s May 3-4 trip to Washington. In a separate
meeting, Fuentes and Ambassador also met April 30 with AMIA
prosecutor Alberto Nisman and representatives of AMIA and
DAIA, the major Jewish community and political
representatives in Argentina to discuss next steps on the
AMIA case. The AMIA and DAIA representatives expressed
appreciation for the USG's assistance and noted the Argentine
Jewish community's united support for the GoA's actions in
support of eventual prosecution of the AMIA case. They also
noted their deep concern over the growing ties between
Venezuela and Iran. End Summary.

Trafficking in Persons
--------------


2. (SBU) Noting his upcoming May 3-4 visit to Washington,
Fernandez expressed interest in receiving a briefing on how
the U.S. manages law enforcement operations regarding
Trafficking in Persons cases (reftel). He said he had been
working on this issue for well over a year and now that a
federal law will be passed soon, he wants to learn all he can
about best practices for use when he begins implementing the
law. SAC Fuentes stated that he would organize a briefing,
coordinating with counterparts from the Department of
Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Training and Visits
--------------


3. (SBU) Legatt briefed the Minister on Argentine Airport
Police Chief Director Sain,s upcoming visit to the United
States for professional exchanges and on two trial advocacy
training seminars the USG is offering in June 2007 in Buenos
Aires and Cordoba, Argentina. The Ambassador informed the
Minister of the USG,s offer of new equipment and software to
improve Argentina,s export control system for strategic
materials and the interest of the Transportation Security
Administration to negotiate an MOU with Argentina,s Airport
Security Police. He also briefed the Minister on agreed
plans for the Drug Enforcement Agency to begin cooperative
operations in Missiones province. Legatt also reminded the
Minister of the FBI,s invitation to participate in Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism Conference in Miami in
June 2007. The Minister was positive and grateful in all of
these areas.

Next Steps on the AMIA Case
--------------

4. (C) SAC Fuentes shared his perspectives on the status of
the request for Interpol to issue red notices against
suspects in the AMIA terrorist bombing. He noted that the
Executive Committee had been unanimous in its support of the
Argentine request for sx suspects, and that as long as the
issue was maintained as a law enforcement action against
those suspected of the attack, he thought the November
General Assembly should support the Executive Committee
position. It is key that Argentina continue to inform others
of the seriousness of its investigation, emphasize it is
strictly a criminal not political matter, and that this not
be turned into an anti-Muslim issue. Fernandez agreed and
advised the GOA will continue its diplomatic efforts to
ensure the Interpol General Assembly approves publication of
the Red Notices during its November 2007 meeting in Morocco.


5. (C) Fuentes and Ambassador also met April 30 with AMIA
prosecutor Alberto Nisman and representatives of AMIA and
DAIA, the major Jewish community and political
representatives in Argentina. Fuentes again briefed on the
Interpol process and prospects for the November General
Assembly in Morocco, and reiterated assurances of continued
FBI and USG assistance. The AMIA and DAIA representatives
expressed their deep appreciation for the USG's assistance
and noted the Argentine Jewish community's united support for
the AMIA prosecution and its support for the GoA's actions.


6. (SBU) Aldo Donzis, DAIA President, noted the importance of
this case in deterring future attacks and, in this vein,
expressed concern over the growing ties between Venezuela and
Iran. He and the other Jewish community leaders noted the
continuing occurrence of anti-Semitic acts in Argentina and
the rest of Latin America and cited Venezuelan President
Chavez's "violent and anti-Semitic language." Donzis noted
that Venezuela's full membership in MERCOSUR would facilitate
the "free circulation" in the member countries of Iranians
and Syrians, now connected to Caracas by direct flights.
Donzis and the others said they understood the political
reasons for the Interpol Executive Committee not recommending
capture notices for former Iranian President Rafsanjani and
the former Foreign Minister and Ambassador, but said it was
important that these individuals not be immune and that
justice be pursued.
WAYNE