DATE=7/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235652
TITLE=ARGENTINA BOMBING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   RELATIVES OF THE 86 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE BOMBING OF THE 
JEWISH CULTURAL CENTER IN BUENOS AIRES FOUR YEARS AGO HAVE 
OBSERVED THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK WITH A FRESH CALL FOR 
JUSTICE. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK 
IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.



TEXT:   DEMONSTRATORS LIT 86 CANDLES IN FRONT OF THE JEWISH 
CULTURAL CENTER IN MEMORY OF LOVED ONES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN 
THE STILL-UNPUNISHED ATTACK THAT OCCURRED FOUR YEARS AGO 
SATURDAY. 

ONE VICTIM'S MOTHER, SOFIA GUTERMAN, SAID AUTHORITIES ARE 
INSULTING THE DEAD BY INEPT PROSECUTION OF THE CASE. THE HEAD OF 
ARGENTINE JEWISH ASSOCIATIONS, RUBEN BERAJA, SAYS THE COMMUNITY 
WANTS JUSTICE,NOT VENGEANCE.  GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WHO WERE 
BOOED DURING LAST YEAR'S ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCE OF THE ATTACK, 
DID NOT TAKE PART IN IT THIS YEAR.

THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL, AND JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN ARGENTINA 
ACCUSE PRO-IRANI MILITANTS OF THE ATTACK ON THE CULTURAL CENTER 
AND THE BOMBING OF THE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN BUENOS AIRES IN 1992, 
WHICH KILLED 29 PEOPLE.  IRAN HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED INVOLVEMENT 
IN BOTH INCIDENTS, AND SAYS ARGENTINA HAS BEEN UNDULY INFLUENCED 
BY PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL IN THE CASE. 

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND IRAN WERE SHARPLY CUT 
BACK TWO MONTHS AGO FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF EIGHT IRANIANS 
SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMB ATTACK ON THE CULTURAL 
CENTER. THE SUSPECTS SAID THE FORMER CULTURAL ATTACHE OF THE 
IRANI EMBASSY IN BUENOS AIRES, MOHSSEN RABBANI, WAS INVOLVED IN 
PLANNING THE BOMBING. HE WAS EXPELLED FROM ARGENTINA IN DECEMBER.
A FORMER IRANIAN SPY LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AS A POLITICAL 
REFUGEE, MANOUCHER MOATAMER, HAS ALSO IMPLICATED MR. RABBANI.



NEB/GM/PT

17-Jul-98 5:14 PM EDT (2114 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.