Cablegate: Argentine Prosecutor On Amia Bombing Development

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1724 3542021
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 192021Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2727
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001724

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC SNAR SCUL IR AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE PROSECUTOR ON AMIA BOMBING DEVELOPMENT

REF: (A) BUENOS AIRES 1695 (B) BUENOS AIRES 1420

1. (U) As anticipated in ref A, Argentine Special Prosecutor
Alberto Nisman on December 16 ordered the attachment of real
estate property in Buenos Aires allegedly belonging to former
Iranian Embassy Cultural Attache in Argentina Mohsen Rabbani,
one of six Iranian suspects sought by Interpol at Argentina's
request for participation in the 1994 bombing of the
Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA).
According to the press, the properties are located at 3387/95
Gaona Avenue and 1111/35 Terrada in the Flores neighborhood,
across the street from the Ezrah Jewish Hospital. Nisman
reportedly ordered the attachment in connection with the
civil action (ref B) filed by an AMIA neighbor seeking
compensation for damages.

2. (SBU) Prosecutor Nisman told Legat on December 19 that he
will subpoena and interview the occupants of five small-scale
commercial establishments (a general store, a butcher, a
pizzeria, a restaurant, and a telephone service center) and
parking garage operating on the attached property to
determine rents paid,contract details and other information
of interest.

3. (SBU) Nisman also confirmed for Legat that he had formally
requested that the governments of Germany and France freeze
four accounts worth USD 48 million. One account with a
balance of USD 38 million reportedly was in the name of
Iranian former president Ali Hashemi Rafsanjani. Nisman
intends to seek to attach these funds on behalf of the AMIA
victims' relatives, some of whom are pursuing civil
litigation against Iranian officials for their role in the
bombing. Nisman further adivised that he will contact Judge
Canicoba-Corral on December 22 or 23 to request authorization
to amend his requests to Germany and France to include a
claim for an additional USD 500 million in damges for the
victims of the bombing and their families.

4. (U) On December 18, President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner visited the AMIA bombing site, at which 85 persons
were killed, for her first time as President. She had lunch
with AMIA representatives, including President Guillermo
Borger, and was accompanied by the Ministers of Justice and
Interior, and promised the government's continuing efforts to
bring the AMIA attackers to justice. "This is a fight for
justice and truth," she said, "and for the victims, because
no one has the right to take another's
life." The head of the umbrella organization DAIA, the
Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations, Aldo Donzis,
praised the good relations between the Jewish community and
the Government of Argentina.

WAYNE

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