Argentina lawmakers pass AMIA deal with Iran
Iran Press TV
Sat Mar 2, 2013 5:13PM GMT
Argentinean lawmakers have passed a deal struck with Iran to set up a "fact-finding commission" to investigate the deadly 1994 bombing of AMIA Jewish center, Press TV reports.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed into law after a 14-hour session with 131 ayes against 113 nays.
"Argentina is a country that has taken an independent international position regarding political, economic and financial powers in the world. Such independence has allowed us to reach an agreement with a country which would need to cooperate in the [AMIA] investigation. The possibility of the justice in the AMIA case is based on the exercise of the autonomy," Argentinean lawmaker, Guillermo Carmona said.
The vote came after tense debates with fierce reactions from opposition lawmakers, who said the national government's "sovereignty and authority," was in the decline.
The Argentinean government says the deal with Tehran will allow judicial officials from Buenos Aires to question Iranian citizens on the 1994 attack.
On January 27, Iran Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Argentinean counterpart Hector Timerman signed the memorandum of understanding for the two countries to shed light on the bombing of the AMIA building in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
The Israeli regime reacted angrily to the deal a day after it was signed. "We are stunned by this news item and we will want to receive from the Argentine government a complete picture as to what was agreed upon because this entire affair affects Israel directly," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yigal Palmor, said on January 28.
In a statement on January 30, however, the Argentinean Foreign Ministry said Israel's demand for explanation over the agreement, described by Argentinean President Fernandez as "historic," was an "improper action that is strongly rejected."
Under intense political pressure from the US and Israel, Argentina had formally accused Iran of having carried out the bomb attack. The Islamic Republic has categorically denied any involvement in the terrorist bombing.
PG/SS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
