ARGENTINA'S REQUEST FOR INTERPOL APPROVAL OF RED

S E C R E T CANBERRA 001580 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/BSC JANINA SLATTERY AND CAROLYN CROFT; NEA/IR REBECCA HUMMEL; S/CT ARNOLD SIERRA AND L/LEI HEATHER MCSHAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2017 TAGS: AR AS IR PREL PTER SUBJECT: ARGENTINA'S REQUEST FOR INTERPOL APPROVAL OF RED NOTICES AGAINST IRANIAN OFFICIALS CHARGED IN AMIA BOMBING REF: STATE 147320 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JAMES F. COLE. REASON 1.4(B) AND (D ) ¶1. (S) Argentina Embassy Counselor Carlos Chiappe told Polcouns on October 26 that he didn't anticipate "any problem" at the Marrakech INTERPOL General Assembly on the question of Australian support on the question of red notices against Iranian officials charged in the AMIA bombing. In declining our offer to weigh in with Australia, which will attend the general assembly meeting, he nevertheless expressed gratitude for the gesture. ¶2. (C) Chiappe provided us with the text of an aide-memoire (reproduced in para 3 below) he had furnished the Australian government, seeking Australia's assistance at the INTERPOL General Assembly in Marrakech in supporting the decision of the INTERPOL General Secretariat and Executive Committee to approve issuance of the red notices against the AMIA bombers. (see para 3 below) ¶3. (C) Begin text of the aide-memoire: AIDE-MEMOIRE ¶1. The terrorist attack against the Argentine Jewish Community Centre AMIA on 18 July 1994 left 85 people dead, and over 150 injured. It also destroyed several buildings. It was a cruel attack that had a profound impact on Argentine society, an open society respectful of all religious beliefs and values and in which substantial communities of different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds have coexisted for over 150 years. ¶2. The investigation is being carried out by Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral, who in February 2005 passed it on (sic) the investigation to a Prosecution Unit specifically established with the purpose of finding the truth in this case. The unit comprises over 40 specialists in different areas. This highly qualified team has carried out an exhaustive and thorough study of the existing documents. In this context, a large number of inquiries were made both in Argentina and abroad, which provided new information to the case. Confirming the firm commitment of the Argentine Government to finding the truth, the President of the Argentina made available to the Prosecution Unit over 1700 files with information related to the case. In sum, the investigation experienced a strong and renewed impulse. ¶3. Along these lines, on 15 November 2005, Mr. Canicoba Corral issued an international arrest warrant in respect of eight Iranian citizens and one Lebanese citizen, and asked INTERPOL to communicate it through the INTERPOL "red notice" diffusion. ¶4. The INTERPOL General Secretary, in view of the Iranian objection and in application of its regulations, called both parties to a meeting in an attempt to settle their differences. The meeting was held in Lyon, France, on 22 January 2007. ¶5. The INTERPOL General Secretariat, after hearing the parties, pursuant to its rules and on the basis of the recommendations presented by its Legal Affairs Office, decided that the request for a "red notice" diffusion should be issued regarding six out of the nine cases submitted by Argentina. Faced with the persistent Iranian opposition, the Secretariat decided to submit the matter to the Executive SIPDIS Committee for consideration. ¶6. The INTERPOL Executive Committee met in Lyon, France, on 13-15 March, and after hearing the parties again, decided to endorse the conclusions of the Secretary General, to the effect of issuing six out of the nine requests made by the Qeffect of issuing six out of the nine requests made by the Argentine Judiciary. ¶7. This decision was appealed again by the Iranian side, so the final resolution will be adopted at the meeting of the INTERPOL General Assembly to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 5-8 November 2007. ¶8. The arrest warrants issued in relation with the AMIA case are based on a court decision in accordance with Argentine rules of procedure and in conformity with all requirements in force for international judicial cooperation. This was recognized by the General Secretariat and by the Executive Committee of INTERPOL. The general Assembly, as governing body of the organization, ought to confirm the steps taken until now by the authorities of INTERPOL. ¶9. The Argentine Republic asks the cooperation of the Australian Government on the occasion of the Marrakech meeting mentioned above, taking into account that the INTERPOL decision is essential for the purpose of establishing the facts of this terrible terrorist attack. This request is consistent with the international law and the observance of the universally accepted rules on judicial cooperation. End text.