INTERPOL meeting concludes with way forward

22 January 2007

The INTERPOL General Secretariat hosted a meeting Monday of representatives from the National Central Bureaus of Argentina and Iran regarding the Red Notice dispute in connection with the 1994 AMIA terrorist bombing in Buenos Aires.

Argentina has requested that INTERPOL issue Red Notices against Iran’s former president and seven other Iranians in connection with the bombing of the Israeli-Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA) building in which 85 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

Iran has challenged the request, which it claims is based on ‘unfounded and undocumented charges’ and is ‘politically motivated’ – arguing that the issuance of Red Notices would violate INTERPOL’s constitution and rules. Article 3 of INTERPOL’s constitution bars it from undertaking any activity that is political, military, religious or racial in character.

The meeting was held in accordance with article 24 of INTERPOL’s rules on the processing of information for the purposes of international police co-operation, allowing both parties to provide information supporting their respective positions.

At the request of the Secretary General, INTERPOL’s Office of Legal Affairs will provide a report – relating to the requested Red Notices – to the Executive Committee, which meets in March.