SUPPORTING ARGENTINA'S REQUEST FOR INTERPOL

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000791 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP; NEA/IR - REBECCA HUMMEL; WHA/BSC: JANINA SLATTERY, CAROLINE CROFT; S/CT ARNOLD SIERRA; L/LEI HEATHER MCSHAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2017 TAGS: PTER KJUS PREL NZ SUBJECT: SUPPORTING ARGENTINA'S REQUEST FOR INTERPOL APPROVAL OF RED NOTICES REF: SECSTATE 147320 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Pol/Econ Counselor spoke with an Argentine Embassy official, who related that the Government of Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had discussed the issue of the red notices with the New Zealand Embassy in Buenos Aires. The Argentine Embassy in Wellington was unaware that its government had asked the USG or any other foreign mission to support its position, but they did not have any objections if the U.S. mission weighed in. In discussion with the French DCM, Pol/Econ Counselor learned that he had not been asked by Paris to assist. The U.S. Embassy did ascertain that the GNZ would be represented at the Interpol General Assembly meeting, but that the New Zealand position on this issue would be determined in Morocco based on their representative's discussions with colleagues at the GA and the dynamic established during the meeting. ¶2. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor met on October 31 with MFAT Director of the Americas Division, Carl Worker, to deliver the demarche. Worker confirmed that the New Zealand Embassy had been approached by the Government of Argentina. Worker noted that the GNZ sense was to be supportive in this situation. Nevertheless, as a former ambassador to Argentina, Worker said that the Argentine judiciary and police investigations in general leave much to be desired; however, he understood that the Argentine government was trying to make a proper case in this instance. He asked if the USG had information bearing on the investigation and its quality; Pol/Econ Counselor responded that such information had not been included in the demarche request. McCormick