Iran

Argentina’s senate approves AMIA deal with Iran

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Argentina’s senate has approved an agreement with Iran on the establishment of a truth commission to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Argentinean senators on Thursday voted 39-31 to ratify the accord.

The lower house of Argentina must also vote on the agreement. The vote is expected to be held by next week.

On January 27, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Argentinean counterpart Hector Timerman signed a memorandum of understanding for the two countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to shed light on the 1994 bombing on the AMIA building in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. AMIA stands for the Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina or the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association.

The Israeli regime reacted angrily to the deal a day after it was signed. Tel Aviv demanded an explanation for the move.

In a statement on January 30, the Argentinean Foreign Ministry said Israel’s demand for explanation over the agreement, described by Fernandez as “historic,” was an “improper action that is strongly rejected.”

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Foreign Minister Timerman have endorsed the agreement, which stipulates that the fact-finding commission, composed of five foreign legal experts, issue a report after carrying out an evaluation of Argentina’s investigation into the issue.

Under intense political pressure imposed by the US and the Israeli regime, Argentina had formally accused Iran of having carried out the bomb attack. The Islamic Republic has categorically denied any involvement in the terrorist bombing.

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