ARGENTINA: Amid objections from senators and victims' family members, Argentine Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, says truth commission with Iran should go forward

Record ID: 447260

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Amid objections from senators and victims' family members, Argentine Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, says truth commission with Iran should go forward
  • Date: 13th February 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FEBRUARY 13, 2013) (REUTERS) MEETING TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AMIA PRESIDENT, GUILLERMO BORGER, SAYING: "50% of this commission is going to be chosen by Iran. How can we accept the lawyers they put forward, even if they are the most renowned lawyers? Surely it's to defend their impunity once again. We absolutely cannot accept this memorandum for the truth commission." VARIOUS OF LAURA GINSBERG, LEADER OF FAMILY VICTIM GROUP AGAINST THE TRUTH COMMISSION, STANDING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEETING TO ASK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER FAMILY VICTIM GROUPS STANDING UP AND RESPONDING TO GINSBERG'S REQUEST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEADER OF FAMILY VICTIM GROUP, LAURA GINSBERG, SAYING: "I ask all of you to oppose this Full Stop law [in reference to a law passed at the end of Argentine dictatorship to stop investigation/trials against military officers accused of crimes] that they are trying to put forward. We aren't going to allow this to happen. We would like those of you who work on this matter to work with us to construct an investigative and independent commission that has access to all the documentation and that can, in every way, make advances in determining the truth and punishing those responsible, starting with the main culprit, the state of Argentina."
  • Embargoed: 28th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADOGLJRLMM7MA1EK655KF6CBK2
  • Story Text: Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman stated Wednesday (February 13) that he supports Argentina establishing a "truth commission" to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center.

    "For the first time there is a written commitment from Iran stating that it will put the suspects in front of the original judge," he said.
    "Before Iran didn't cooperate. Now, for the first time, it is ready to do so. And, furthermore, it does so fully acknowledging the competency of the Argentine judges in regard to the AMIA case, after having systematically denied it for so many years."
    Argentine courts accuse Iran of sponsoring the attack, which killed 85 people. The pact signed with Tehran has been criticized by Israel and Jewish groups who fear it could end up weakening the case against Iranian officials.
    During a meeting between Argentine lawmakers and victims' family members about the possible establishment of a commission, tempers flared as victims family members voiced their opposition.

    "Fifty percent of this commission is going to be chosen by Iran. How can we accept the lawyers they put forward, even if they are the most renowned lawyers? Surely it's to defend their impunity once again. We absolutely cannot accept this memorandum for the truth commission," said Guillermo Borger, AMIA President.

    "I ask all of you to oppose this Full Stop law [in reference to a law passed at the end of Argentine dictatorship to stop investigation/trials against military officers accused of crimes] that they are trying to put forward," said Laura Ginsberg, the leader of a family victim group.
    "We aren't going to allow this to happen."
    President Cristina Fernandez announced recently that she is sending a bill to Congress asking it to approve the agreement, which envisions the establishment of a five-member "truth commission" of international legal specialists.
    It also outlines plans for Argentine prosecutors to travel to Tehran to question Iranians accused of links to the attack, which Iran denies any involvement in.
    In 2007, Argentine authorities secured Interpol arrest warrants for five Iranians, including Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, and a Lebanese citizen.
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