Meetings In Chile, Argentina, And Uruguay Will Focus On Issues Of Jewish Concern With Community And Government Leaders

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 23 October 1998

An American Jewish Committee Leadership Mission, headed by prominent Houston attorney Jack Lapin, Chair of AJC's National Board of Governors, will travel to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay from October 22 through October 30.

Meetings are scheduled with President Frei and Foreign Minister Insulza in Chile, the ministers of justice and the interior in Argentina, and President Sanguinetti of Uruguay, as well as with to meet with Jewish community leaders, Israeli and American diplomats, business leaders and senior government officials.

The three countries - Chile, Argentina and Uruguay - represent the rebirth of vigorous democracies and vibrant open market economies in Latin America. Equally important, there is a thriving Jewish community in each country, a community that AJC has had close ties to over many years.

AJC will focus on bilateral issues in each country, as well as each country's links to the Middle East and its voting pattern in the UN regarding Israel. AJC will urge each government to use its influence to dissuade Yasar Arafat from unilaterally declaring an independent Palestinian state next May, and will stress the ongoing danger to Western democracies of international terrorism.

The Leadership Mission will begin in Chile. AJC has enjoyed good relations with its government and Jewish community and has met with Chilean Foreign Minister Jose Insulza the past two years in New York at the annual opening of the UN General Assembly. Minister Insulza has extended an official invitation to AJC to visit Chile.

From Chile the Mission travels to Buenos Aires where AJC has a long history of involvement with Argentina. AJC maintained an office for many years in Buenos Aires and remains in close contact with the Jewish community, the largest in Latin America. Argentine Jewry plays a prominent role in industry, commerce, politics, the professions and the arts. Nevertheless, anti-Semitism has recurred in Argentina throughout this century. Moreover, the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 destruction of the Argentine-Israelite Mutual Aid Association (AMIA) remain unsolved, and AJC will visit the site of the AMIA bombing to pay homage to the victims of the terrorist attack.

This atrocity was the deadliest terrorist event in Argentine history, and resulted in the largest Jewish death toll from terrorism outside Israel since World War II. Eighty-six people were killed and another 300 were wounded. In May, Argentine authorities said they had proof that Iran masterminded the bombings and the government expelled seven Iranian embassy officials, allowing only one Iranian diplomat to remain in the country. Since 1993, AJC has issued an annual report on the lack of progress in the investigations of these crimes.

From Buenos Aires the Mission travels to Montevideo, Uruguay. Nearly all of Uruguay's 24,000 Jews live in Montevideo, and Jews have always been well integrated in the country's affairs and economic life. Uruguay was the first country in South America to officially recognize Israel and the first Israeli embassy on the continent was opened in Montevideo in November 1948. Together with Costa Rica, it is considered one of Israel's best friends in South America. President Sanguinetti was a guest of honor at AJC's Annual Meeting in Washington this year, receiving an award in recognition of his country's close links to Israel and friendship with the Jewish people.

Jacob Kovadloff, AJC's Senior Consultant on Latin American Affairs, who previously served as director of AJC's office in Buenos Aires, and Barry Jacobs, AJC's Assistant Director for International Relations, are the staff members accompanying the group. Jacobs, a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, has served several tours in Latin America.

The Mission will hold a press briefing in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 27, at 11a.m, at the Alvear Palace Hotel.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org