t c- e cj 4' f ' BRIEF'ING MEMORANDUM A 3 L S S K Entire Text TO The Secretary FROM ARA - Viron P SUBJECT Your Meetin with ar os Washington 1 INTRODUCTION Since your last meeting with Foreign Minister Pastor at the September UNGA there have been significant developments in the internal political situation which could affect further progress on human rights Minister Pastor may complain that the United States fails to recognize the great efforts made by President Videla and other Argentine leaders to improve the human rights situation On the nuclear issue the Minister will likely take the subject under advisement II ISSUES 1 Internal Political Developments and Human Rights The recent decision of the Argentine Government to release Timerman on September 25 prompted deep divisions within the military That decision and the armed terrorist attack against Economy Secretary Guillermo Walter Klein and his family were prime factors in precipitating the September 30 rebellion by hardline III Corps Commander General Benjamin Menendez While Menendez's dismissal undoubtedly represented a key victory for the more moderate elements within the Argentine leadership the underlying hardline sentiment still exists The senior military leaders initially voted 6-3 against Timerman's release to reverse the decision President Videla the civilian Minister of Justice and the entire Supreme Court threatened to resign Moreover it is our Embassy's view that recent State Department press releases such as that on Timerman's release have left the impression within the GOA of continued U S hostility toward Argentina despite recent improvement on human rights and that this may have tended to strengthen the position of hardline elements in the Argentine Armed Forces GDS 10 18 85 J Although there were a number of disappearances in August and September there have been no new reports since you last raised this issue with Pastor Talking Points --we were very pleased that the IAHRC mission to Argentina received the full support of the government during its visit · --In the aftermath of the IAHRC visit what further developments do you expect in improving human rights 2 Treaty of Tlatel lco In your August 10 meeting with Pastor in Quito he told you that Argentina planned to ratify the treaty of Tlatelolco within a couple of months after Argentina arranged the purchase of a heavy water plant On October 1 the GOA announced the contract award for the construction of a heavy water plant by the Swiss Talking Points --Now that Argentina has awarded a contract for the heavy water plant when does Argentina plan to ratify the Treaty of Tlatelolco -- If Pastor vacillates Argentina announced its decision to ratify the treaty of Tlatelolco in November 1977 We do not see the treaty as a bar to the transfer of nuclear technology and would very much like to see Argentina keep its pledge 3 Inter-American Issues As time allows you may wish to discuss current developments on such issues as --OAS political issues including Bolivia's access to the sea efforts --Central America including the latest developments in El Salvador --Cuba Castro's UN speech and Cuban activities in the hemisphere