ate Printed 04 17 1997 - DOC_NUMBER 76BUENOS01042 PAGE 01 ' •• BUENOS 01042 l61939Z UNCLASSlflEO CHANNEL n a 47 ACTION SS-25 INFO OCT-01 ISO-OO SSO-OO NSCE-OO Q26 W 108990 o 161700Z FEB 76 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4520 EXDIS BUENOS AIRES 1042 DECAPT ONED UICllSS f EU FROM AMBASSADOR HILL FOR ARA ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY E o 11-652 GDS TAGS PINT PFOR AR SUBJECT MILITARY TAKE COGNIZANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE 1 DIEGO M EDUS PROTECT CHIEF OF NORTH AMERICAN DESK AT FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIDED TO M E AT LUNCH ON FEB 13 THAT HE HAS BEEN ASKED BY THE MILITARY PLANNING GROUP TO PREPARE A STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW THE FUTURE MILITARY GOVT CAN AVOID OR MINIMIZE THE SORT OF PROBLEMS THE CHILEAN AND URUGUAYAN GOVTS ARE HAVING WITH THE US OVER HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE M EDUS SAID HE HAD TOLD THEM THEY WILL HAVE TROUBLE IF THEY START EXECUTING PEOPLE THE OFFICERS REPLIED THAT THEY INTEND TO CARRY FORWARD AN ALL OUT WAR ON THE TERRORISTS AND THAT SOME EXECUTIONS WOULD THEREFORE PROBABLY BE NECESSARY THEY WISH TO MINIMIZE ANY RESULTING PROBLEMS WITH THE US HOWEVER AND THEREFORE ASKED MEDUS TO PREPARE A STUDY 2 ADDITIONALLY HERIBERTO KAHN OF LA OPINION TOLD OUR POLITICAL SECTION ON FEB 13 THAT IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH GENERAL VIOLA HE HAD RAISED THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AND POINTED OUT THAT ANY FUTURE MILITARY GOVT SHOULD AVOID STEPS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO PROBLEMS WITRTHE US CONGRESS SUCH AS THOSE THE PINOCHET GOVT IS HAVING VIOLA HAD REPLIED THAT THE ARGENTINE MILITARY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS WISH TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE US AND TO AVOID PROBLEMS OVER HUMAN RIGHTS OR OTHER ISSUES HE NOTED HOWEVER THAT WHILE HE VIDELA AND SEVERAL OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM - Page - 1- I RTME NT JJ1bMllPSlcRIIR OW Z 1 q 7 RELEASE k 'PECLASSIFY I CISE DECLASm 110 Cltatlon _ DIJNY IN PART Q7007 3 Lj ITI TS outhorIlylO FOlA Exemptions CLASSIFY as 5 01 C _ PA Exemption DOWNGRADETSlo 5or C 42 CHANNEL n a PAGE 02 BUENOS 01042 SB' SZ •• FULLY THERE ARE MANY Oto FICERS B li LOW ·rHBM iliO GO nOT AND WHO WISH TO TAKE STRONG MEASURES EVEN IF SUCH MEASURES OFFEND THE US CONGRESS HE EMPHASIZED THAT PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WILL BE NEEDED ON BOTH SIDES 'ate Printed 04 17 19 97 3 COMMENT IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE ARGENTINE MILITARY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE ALREADY FOCUSING ON WAYS TO AVOID LETTING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES BECOME AN IRRITANT IN US-ARGENTINE RELATIONS HILL NNN Current Handling Restrictions Current Classification EXDIS ' UMClASS f EO Page - 2