UNCLASSIFIED @ Page 1 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Channel n a CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-15 BUENOS 06614 01 OF 02 141927Z RELEASED IN FULL OCT-01 ADS-00 H -05 TRSE-00 I0-14 EB-08 AID-05 SAS-02 OES-09 DOE-15 SOE-02 MCT-03 SY-05 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 NSCE -00 SS0-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 121 w ------------------032802 14202SZ· 73 0 141713Z AUG 79 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1914 INFO CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 1 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 6614 E O 12065 XDS-1 8 13 09 CASTRO RAUL H OR-M TAGS MILI NU AR SHUM CT SUBJECT C AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH FONMIN AND DISCUSSES ECUADOREAN TRIP 1 C - ENTIRE TEXT 2 SUMMARY FONMIN RETURNED FROM HIS RECENT QUITO TRIP FAVORABLY IMPRESSED WITH SECY VANCE FONMIN SAID HE ASSURED SECY VANCE OF TLATELOCO'S RATIFICATION SUPPOSEDLY FONMIN PASTOR EXPRESSED TO SECY VANCE GOA'S SERIOUS CONCERN OVER NICARAGUA AND CENAMERICA GOA OPPOSED ANY MILITARY ASSITANCE TO NICARAGUA BUT SUPPORTS ECONOMICAL ASSISTANCE OF HUMANITARIAN NATURE PASTOR SUGGESTED USG REGULARLY CONSULT WITH MEXICO BRAZIL VENEZUELA AND ARGENTINA ON NICARAGUAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN AFFAIRS FONMIN EXPRESSED HfE FOR RENEWED STRONG TIES TO USG AND ITS PEOPLE AND WILL SUPPORT USG POLICY BEFORE OAS AND UN PASTOR STATED GOA FULLY AWARg OF ITS SHORTCOMING IN FIELDOF HUMAN RIGHTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THIS FIELD FONMIN STATED USG SHOULD CEASE EXERCISING PRESSURES ON GOA ON HUMAN RIGHTS MATTERS AS THIS IS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE END SUMMARY 3 AT FONMIN PASTOR'S REQUEST I MET WITH HIM THIS NOON CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BUENOS 06614 01 OF 02 141927Z AUGUST 13 IN'HIS OFFICE I GREETED HIM BY STATING I HOPED HIS TRIP TO QUITO WAS A SUCCESSFUL ONE PASTOR WAS ALL SMILES KEEPING IN MIND THAT A SMILE IS NOT ONE OF THE FONMIN'S Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY NORMAN M BOUTON DATE CASE ID 04 AUG 2004 200401587 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 2 · Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Channel n a ATTRIGUTES SO MUCH SO THAT SOME MEMBER OF DIPCORPS AS A FRIENDLY GESTURE REFER TO HIM AS OLD STONE FACE HE EXUDED FRIENDLINESS AND OST NO TIME IN TELLING ME HE WAS MOST FAVORABLY IMPRESSED WITH SECY VANCE FONMIN SAID HE FOUND SECY VANCE TO BE CANDID SINCERE AND A MOST ABLE DIPLOMAT -4 TREATY OF TLATELOCO WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FONMIN STATED SECY VANCE HAD INQUIRED OF STATUS OF TLATELOLCO PASTOR CONFIRMED TO SECY VANCE GOA'S INTENTION TO RATIFY TLATELOLCO AS PER FONMIN SECY VANCE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER DELAY IN RATIFICATION OF TLATELOLCO EXPLANATION OF DELAY ATTRIBUTED BY FONMIN TO UNDUE PRESSURES ON FULL SCOPE SAFEGUARDS BY USG AND ALSO CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRG AND CANADA PASTOR TOLD ME NEGOTIATIONS WOULD PROBABLY BE CONCLUDED THIS WEEK AND FSS NO LONGER WERE A PROBLEM FONMIN STATED HE TOLD SECY VANCE AND REPEATED TO ME THAT TLATELOLCO RATIFICATION WOULD BE OCCURRING SOON 5 NICARAGUA AND CENTRAL AMERICA FONMIN TOLD ME SECY VANCE WAS INTERESTED IN KNOWING GOA'S VIEWS ON NICARAGUA AND ALL OF CENTAL AMERICA PASTOR STATED HE INFORMED THE SECY OF THE MENACE OF COMMUNISM AND THEN FOR GOOD MEASURE HE GAVE ME A LONG DISSETATION ON HOW UNDER THE DAYS OF THE CZAR PEOPLE HAD REBELLED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND FROM THEN ON COMMUNISM HAD SPREAD THROUGHT EUROPE CHINA AFRICA CUBA AND NOW MAINLAND AMERICA--NICARAGUA PASTOR DESCRIBED COMMUNISM AS A SPREADING CANCER--FATAL TO MANKIND PASTRO STATED NOW MORE THAT EVER ARGENTINES FEEL THE CLOSENESS TO USG BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY OF WAY OF LIFE HE STATED CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BUENOS 06614 01 OF 02 141927Z AMERICAN IDEOLOGY OF GOVERNMENT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE THINKING OF ALL ARGENTINES PASTOR UNDERSCORED THE POINT· OF BEING AN ALLY AND A FRIEND OF USG HE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES OF GOA'S BELIEF IN USG AND OF GOA'S INTENTION OF SUPPORTING AMERICAN-POLICY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE HE MADE REFERENCE OF GOA'S SUPPORT OF us BEFORE THE OAS AND UN 6 FIVE COUNTRY LATIN BLOCK PASTOR STATED SECY VANCE HAD ASKED HIM IF GOA HAD ANY SOLUTIONS TO NICARAGUA AND RELATED CENTRAL AMERICAN PROBLEMS PASTOR SAID HE HAD NO SOLUTIONS BUT OFFERED ONE SUGGESTION SUPPOSEDLY FONMIN'S SUGGESTION WAS THAT USG AS THE LEADER SHOULD CONSULT ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH MEXICO BRAZIL VENEZUELA AND ARGENTINA PASTOR Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 2 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Page 3 Channel n a REFERRED TO THESE COUNTRIES AS THE FIVE POWERS OF LATIN AMERICA WITH EACH COUNTRY WIELDING INFLUENCE ON SMALLER COUNTRIES PASTOR STATED HE FELT IN PAST USG MADE ITS CONSULATIONS AFTER THE FACT BUT SELDOM PRIOR TO THE· ACT FONMIN EMPHASIZED IF EACH ONE OF FIVE COUNTRIES CONSULTED THEN EACH COUNTRY WOLD CONTACT THOSE COUNTRIES WITHIN THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IN THIS MANNER USG'S LA POLICY COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WIHTOUT HITCHES AND THIS POLICY WOULD THEN BE PALATABLE AS EACH COUNTRY WOULD FEEL THEY WERE PART OF THE POLICY WITH FULL CONSULTATION PASTOR FELT THIS FORMULA COULD PREVENT MANY HEARTACHES AND SOUL SEARCHING IN APPARENT PROBLEMS APPEAING ON THE GUATEMALAN AND SALVADORAN HORIZON FONMIN TOOK THE POSTURE THAT USG AND LA CAN ILL AFFORD THE COLLAPSE OF GUATEMALAN SALVADORAN AND HONDURAN GOVTS HIS VIEW WAS THAT THE GOVTS OF THESE CA COUNTRIES WERE NOT IDEAL BUT WHAT WOULD REPLACE THEM WOULD BE FAR WORSE-- CASTROISM 7 HUMAN RIGHTS PASTOR STATED SECY VANCE WAS TOLD HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE USG'S DOMINANT TOPIC FOR GOA AT THIS MOMENT FONMIN SAID THE OVERALL RELATIONSHIP OF USG AND GOA SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THE AGENDA PASTOR STATED ALL AMERICAN COUNTRIES WERE FACED WITH THE SAME DILEMMA--A CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 BUENOS 06614 01 OF 02 141927Z FIGHT TO DEATH AGAINST COMMUNISM AND TERRORISM HE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED PASTOR SAID HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD BE CONSIDRED GLOBALLY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ALL FACETS OF ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ASPECTS FONMIN SA D WHEN THIS WAS DONE THE ROLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WOULD STILL BE HIGHLIGHTED WITHOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF A FIRM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO ALLIED COUNTRIES PASTOR MADE IT CLEAR GOA WAS COMMITTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS THEY KNEW THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND WEAKNESSES CONFIDENTIAL NNN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-15 INFO OCT-01 BUENOS 06614 ADS-00 HA-05 02 OF 02 TRSE-00 142051Z I0-14 EB-OB Current Class CONFIDENTIAL AID-05 Page 3 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page _ 4 Current 'class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Channel n a SAS-02 OES-09 DOE-15 SOE-02 MCT-03 SY-05 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 NSCE-00 SS0-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 SVC-00 121 W ------------------033314 142104Z 73 0 141713Z AUG 79 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1915 CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 2 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 66 4 PASTOR ADMITTED PAST EXCESSES ON PART OF GOA BUT PLEADED NOT TO BE JUDGED SOLELY ON PAST EVENTS BUT ON THEIR PEFORMANCE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE PASTOR SAID GOA HAD MADE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND·WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO FONMIN RECOGNIZED GOA'S IMPORVEMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS WERE PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO US POLICY BUT HE SAID NOW THE PRESSURE SATURATION POINT HAS BEEN REACHED HE STRESSED IT WAS A MISTAKE OF USG TO CONTINUE APPLYING UNDUE PRESSURES AS FROM NOW ON IT WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE HE FELT MANY OF THE MILITARY WERE NOW BEGINNING TO REACT ADVERSELY ON APPLICATION OF FURTHER PRESSURE FROM USG FONMIN CONCLUDED DISCUSSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS BY STATING THAT WITH A LITTLE FINESSE AND TACT USG COULD REPAIR DAMAGED BILATERAL RELATIONS AND ASSURE ARGENTINE SUPPORT 8 JACOBO TIMERMAN I AGAIN RAISED THE ISSUE OF POSSIBLE RELEASE OF JACOBO TIMERMAN I AGAIN REPEATED ALL THE REASONS WHY IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF GOA TO RELEASE TIMERMAN FONMIN WAS TOLD THAT SO LONG AS TIMERMAN WAS IN CUSTODY THE AMERICAN PRESS WOULD CONTINUE TO PAINT A MOST UNFAVORABLE PICTURE OF ARGENTINA I TOLD PASTOR THIS IS WHAT AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS HAD TOLD ME DURING MY CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BUENOS 06614 02 OF 02 142051Z FREQUENT MEETINGS WITH THEM FONMIN ASKED ME IF I COULD GET A LETTER FROM TIMERMAN REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO GO TO ISRAEL TO JOIN HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN LETTER SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT TIMERMAN DID NOT INTEND TO SAY OR WRITE ANYTHING DEROGATORY ON ARGENTINA AT THIS POINT I MADE IT CLEAR TO FONMIN THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES COULD I BE A PART OF ANY INSTRUMENT WHICH GAVE APPEARANCE OF ANY ATTEMPT TO SILENCE AN INDIVIDUAL PASTOR AGREED WITH ME BOT STATED IT IS A KNOWN FACT THE LETTER WOULD NOT BE WORTH THE PAPER IT WAS WRITTEN ON AS Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 4 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 5 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Channel n a ONCE TIMERMAN LEFT NO ONE COULD CONTROL HIM HE MADE IT CLEAR A FACE-SAVING DEVICE WAS BEING SOUGHT AND THIS LETTER COULD BE A PART OF IT PASTOR STATED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE A LETTER SHOULD BE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVT OF ISRAEL AFFIRMING GOI'S WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE TIMERMAN AND ALSO THAT SOME TYPE OF SUPERVISION WOULD BE EXERCISED ON HIM SO AS TO AVOID POLITICAL MACHINATIONS VS GOA WHILE THERE I MADE IT CLEAR THIS WAS BEYOND MY JURISDICTION BUT I WOULD BE GLAD TO CONVEY THE INFORMATION TO MRS TIMERMAN WHO HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME AT 1500 HOURS THE SAME DAY AUGUST 13 PASTRO WAS CONFIDENT THAT UPON RECEIPT OF TIMERMAN'S LETTER AND LETTER FROM ISRAEL JACOBO TIMERMAN COULD BE RELEASED WITHIN ONE MONTH PASTOR STATED HE PERSONALLY WOULD APPEAR BEFORE THE JUNTA TO PLEAD FOR TIMERMAN'S RELEASE FONMIN IS A RETIRED AF OFFICER SO HIS COMMENT WAS THE THE·AF SUPPORTED TIMERMAN'S RELEASE AND THE NAVY WAS INDIFFERENT BUT WOULD GO ALONG WITH TIMERMAN'S RELEASE PASTOR BLAMED GENERAL SUAREZ MASON AND GENERAL CAMPS FOR TIMERMAN'S CONTINUED INCARCERATION HE ASKED THAT I DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HAVE GEN SUAREZ MASON SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY 9 MRS TIMERMAN'S REACTION AS SCHEDULED MRS TIMERMAN ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE AT 1500 HOURS SHE INFORMED ME HER SON HECTOR HAD BEEN INVITED BY SEVERAL LEADING CANADIAN CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BUENOS 06614 02 OF 02 142051Z JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS TO SPEAK IN TORONTO AND MONTREAL ON HER HUSBAND'S IMPRISONMENT SUPPOSEDLY HECTOR HAS ACCEPTED ALSO B'NAI BRITH THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AND OTHER LEADING JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABOUT TO START A FULL CANADIAN CAMPAIGN FOR TIMERMAN'S RELEASE MRS TIMERMAN STATED SENATOR KENNEDY rs AGAIN BEING APPROACHED FOR HIS SUPPORT I CONVEYED FONMIN'S MESSAGE TO MRS TIMERMAN SHE STATED SHE HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING A LETTER FROM HER HUSBAND AND HAD FULL CONFIDENCE SHE COULD OBTAIN A LETTER FROM ISRAEL BUT FELf IT WOULD NOT BE EASY SHE SADI SHE WOULD BE COMMUNICATING WITH ME SOON 10 JAIME LOKMANN I ALSO RAISED THE JAIME LOKMANN CASE WITH PASTOR HE STATED HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE CASE I TOLD HIM IT WAS ANOTHER MERITORIOUS AND HIGH INTEREST CASE I EXPALINED MR LOKMANN HAD SUFFERED SEVERAL HEART ATTACKS AND HIS HEALTH WAS IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION I EXPLAINED LOKMAN WAS JEWISH AND IF HE KDIED IN PRISON ANTISEMITISM CHARGES WOULD BE INJECTED INTO THE CASE Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 5 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 6 Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Current Handling n a Document Number 1979BUENOS06614 Channel n a I RECOMMENDED IT WAS VERY MUCH IN THE INTEREST OF GOA TO HAVE LOKMAN RELEASED HE REQUESTED MR LOKMAN'S FULL NAME AND SAID HW WOULD TAKE IT UP WITH PRESIDENT VIDELA WHEN THEY LUNCHED THE SAME DAY SEE STATE 207853 11 CLANDESTINE CAMPS I TOLD FONMIN RUMORS WERE FLYING HIGH ABOUT CLANDESTINE PRISON CAMPS EXISTING IN ARGENTINA PASTRO ANSWERED THIS WITH A PARTIAL DISCLAIMER HE STATED HE HAD BEEN IN OFFICE ONLY A SHORT TIME THEREFORE WAS NOT PRIVY TO OPERATIONS PRIOR TO HIS TAKING OFFICE HE STATED DURING HIS SHORT TENRURE HE HAS NOT BEEN AWARE OF ANY CLANDESTINE PRISON CAMPS 12 LAW OF THE SEA 200 MILES PASTOR STATED HE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH WITH SECY VANCE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES REFERRING TO USG SENDING NAVAL UNITS TO ARGENTINE WATERS TO CHALLENGE 200MILE LIMIT AND INVOKE 12-MILE LIMI AS RECOGNIZED BY USG CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 BUENOS 06614 02 OF 02 142051Z FONMIN STATED HE WAS SATISFIED THERE WAS NO BASIS TO THESE ARTICLES AND USG w s NOT SEEKING CONFRONTATION PASTOR ALSO STATED HE WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED USG HAD NO DESIGNS ON ARGENTINA EITHER_DIRECT OR INDIRECT I CONCURRED WITH PASTOR ALL OF TODAY'S AUGUST 14 DAILI S CARRIED QUOTES ON MY MEETING WITH FONMIN AND DISCUSSING LOS MATTERS I NEVER SPOKE TO ANY REPORrERS SO SOURCE WAS FONOFF COMMENT MY ·FIRM BELIEF IS THAT FONMIN IS OVERLY CONFIDENT OF HIS ABILITY TO C# ON TIMERMAN'S RELEASE I SPOKE TO GENERAL VIOLA A FEW DAYS AGO FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING WITH HIM HE STATED HE WOULD BE IN PARAGUAY MOST OF THE WEEK BUT WE WOULD GET TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK THE TIMERMAN CASE WILL AGAINS BE RAISED WITH VIOLA GENERAL CONSENSUS IS SUAREZ MASON IS A HARD NUT TO CRACK THIS IS CERTAINLY VIOLA'S VIEW AS IS MINE ALL MEMBERS OF THIS EMBASSY CONTINUE TO CHARGE FULL-STEAM AHEAD ON HUMAN RIGHTS MATTERS CASTRO NOTE BY OC T BUENOS AIRES 6614 OMISSION PARA 12 CORRECTION TO FOLLOW CONFIDENTIAL Current Class CONFIDENTIAL Page 6 UNCLASSIFIED -