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106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 329

Urging the Government of Argentina to pursue and punish those responsible

for the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos

Aires, Argentina.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 28, 2000

Mr. L. CHAFEE (for himself and Mr. HELMS) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Urging the Government of Argentina to pursue and punish

those responsible for the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Whereas on July 18, 1994, 86 innocent persons were killed

and 300 were wounded when the AMIA Jewish Community Center was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;

Whereas the United States welcomes Argentine President

Fernando de la Rua’s political will to pursue the investigation of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community

Center to its ultimate conclusion;

Whereas circumstantial evidence attributes the attack to the

terrorist group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon and sponsored by Iran;
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•SRES 329 IS

Whereas the investigation indicates that this bombing could

not have been carried out without assistance from former

elements of local security forces;

Whereas additional evidence indicates that the tri-border area

where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil meet was used to

channel resources for the purpose of carrying out the

bombing attack;

Whereas Argentine officials have acknowledged that there

was negligence in the initial phases of the investigation

and that the institutional and political conditions must be

created to advance the investigation of this terrorist attack;

Whereas on March 17, 1992, terrorists bombed the Embassy

of Israel in Buenos Aires, killing 29 persons and injuring

more than 200 others, and the Government of Argentina

has not yet brought anyone to justice for that act of terrorism;

Whereas failure to duly punish the culprits of these acts

serves to reward these terrorists and help spread terrorism throughout the Western Hemisphere;

Whereas the democratic leaders of the Western Hemisphere

issued mandates at the 1994 and 1998 Summits of the

Americas that condemned terrorism in all its forms and

that committed governments to combat terrorist acts

anywhere in the Americas with unity and vigor; and

Whereas it is the long-standing policy of the United States

to stand firm against terrorist attacks wherever and

whenever they occur and to work with its allies to ensure

that justice is done: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—
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•SRES 329 IS

1 (1) reiterates its condemnation of the attack on

2 the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos

3 Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and remembers the

4 victims of this heinous act;

5 (2) strongly urges the Government of Argentina

6 to fulfill its international obligations and commit7 ments and its promise to the Argentine people by

8 pursuing the local and international connections to

9 this act of terrorism, wherever they may lead, and

10 to duly punish all those who were involved;

11 (3) urges the Government of Argentina to pur12 sue and prosecute any person with ties to Hezbollah

13 or any other terrorist organization;

14 (4) calls on the President to raise this issue in

15 bilateral discussions with Argentine officials and to

16 underscore the United States concern regarding the

17 6-year delay in the resolution of this case;

18 (5) recommends that the United States Perma19 nent Representative to the Organization of American

20 States should seek support from the countries com21 prising the Inter-American Committee Against Ter22 rorism to assist, if requested by the Government of

23 Argentina, in the investigation of this terrorist at24 tack;
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•SRES 329 IS

1 (6) encourages the President to direct United

2 States law enforcement agencies to provide support

3 and cooperation to the Government of Argentina, if

4 requested, for purposes of the investigation into this

5 and other terrorist activities in the tri-border area;

6 and

7 (7) desires a lasting and positive relationship

8 between the United States and Argentina based on

9 a mutual commitment to the rule of law and democ10 racy in the Western Hemisphere and mutual abhor11 rence of terrorism.

12 SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit

13 a copy of this resolution to the President and the United

14 States Permanent Representative to the Organization of

15 American States.

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