Wiesenthal Center Representatives Confer With Argentine Officials, Legal Experts On AMIA Bombing Indictments; Urge International Help To Bring Former Iranian President Before The Bar Of Justice

November 30, 2006

Buenos Aires

WIESENTHAL CENTER REPRESENTATIVES CONFER WITH ARGENTINE OFFICIALS,LEGAL EXPERTS ON  AMIA BOMBING INDICTMENTS; URGE INTERNATIONAL HELP TO BRING FORMER IRANIAN PRESIDENT BEFORE THE BAR OF JUSTICE  

Representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading international Jewish Human Rights organization are holding consultations in Buenos Aires with government officials, legal experts, and representatives of the families who lost loved ones during the infamous 1994 AMIA bombing.

"We are here first to express our satisfaction that after so many years of delay and disappointment, Argentina's justice system has taken an important step to bring those responsible for the AMIA mass murder before the bar of justice," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Center's associate dean. "The arrest warrants against former Iranian President Rafsanjani and colleagues have rekindled the hope that the perpetrators of this heinous terror attack could be held accountable. It is also clear that Argentina will need the full support of Interpol and world governments if any of those indicted are to be arrested and brought to this country. We especially call on European governments and leading Human Rights NGOs to join Argentina in their just struggle," Cooper added.

Sergio Widder, the Wiesenthal Center's Latin American representative reported that the Center also presented Argentine leaders at the Congress and the Executive branch a recent resolution approved by the Australian Parliament declaring that suicide terrorism is to be considered a crime against humanity. "We hope that Argentina will consider passing a similar resolution, which would help empower the families of the AMIA bombing victims to also pursue an independent legal case against the accused," Widder said.

The Wiesenthal Center officials met with the Argentine Minister of Interior, Anibal Fernandez; Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner; Representative Federico Pinedo, and senior officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including Vice Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan.

"In the struggle against terrorism, it is crucial to focus on the human face of the victims, not on mind-numbing statistics. The innocent civilians murdered in the AMIA building and their families deserve to be remembered and supported. If we fail to do so, then those who plan such heinous acts will have a double victory and be emboldened to pursue their horrific agenda", Cooper concluded.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS and the Council of Europe.

For further information contact Sergio Widder 15 4425 1306. From outside Argentina 54911 44251306. Rabbi Cooper can be reached at 1310-210-9750