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.