New York, NY, February 13, 2013 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on members of the Argentine Congress to “act in the interest of the victims, their families and the people of Argentina” by withholding approval of the Argentine government’s decision to collaborate with Iran in a so-called “Truth Commission” on the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires.
The terrorist attack killed 85 Argentineans and injured hundreds.
On January 28, ADL criticized the decision by Argentina’s President to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, which would bypass Argentina’s criminal justice system and allow the perpetrators to evade being brought to justice under Argentine law.
President Fernandez de Kirchner has now submitted the MOU to the Congress for its approval.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
Any doubt about Iran’s real intentions in entering into the MOU were completely dispelled by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a statement on February 12.
The spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said that “the interrogation of some of the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran in line with the AMIA care are inaccurate,” and that it is “no longer necessary to pursue this issue…Iran and Argentina themselves will pursue this issue by forming a committee by way of the agreement.”
The MOU, which is now being considered by Argentina’s Congress for approval, is an affront to the memory of those citizens of Argentina who lost their lives and were injured by the barbarous act of terrorism in Argentina’s capital city. This will only add to the suffering and pain of the survivors and families.
The statements by Iran leave no doubt that the regime does not intend to allow this agreement to result in a fair process. We respectfully urge the Argentine Congress to act in the interest of the victims, their families and the people of Argentina by opposing the approval of the MOU.