At 13:49 26/11/2006, you wrote:
Now, this is interesting. Does Michael know more about it? -- Yoshie
Only what I've read in the papers. If I'm not mistaken, the
ambassador is the former minister of health-- a good militant (a
doctor) who got into trouble there for some statements and was
replaced. Not the kind of thing I follow.
m
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6181922.stm>
Friday, 24 November 2006, 18:27 GMT
Chavez 'Recalls Argentina Envoy'
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has recalled his ambassador to Buenos
Aires following a complaint by Argentina's leader, Argentine media
report.
President Nestor Kirchner is said to have contacted Mr Chavez over the
conduct of ambassador Roger Capella.
Mr Capella is accused of supporting former Housing Secretary Luis D'Elia.
Mr D'Elia was fired for criticising an international arrest warrant
for eight Iranian former cabinet ministers issued by Argentine
prosecutors.
The warrants were issued over the ex-ministers' alleged involvement in
a bomb attack on a Jewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires in 1994, in
which 85 people were killed.
Correspondents say this is the latest in string of diplomatic
incidents involving the Venezuelan ambassador.
Iran denial
The then Iranian authorities have been accused of directing Lebanese
militia group Hezbollah to carry out the attack.
Iran has rejected the charges, describing it as a "Zionist plot".
Hezbollah has also denied its involvement in the attack.
The blast reduced the seven-storey Jewish-Argentine Mutual Association
community centre to rubble.
No-one has ever been convicted of the attack, but the current
government has said it is determined to secure justice.
Over the years, the case has been marked by rumours of cover-ups and
accusations of incompetence, but little in the way of hard evidence.
Minor figures have been named, including a policeman who sold the van
used in the attack, but no-one has been convicted.
Local Jewish groups have long said the bombing bore the hallmarks of
Iranian-backed Islamic militants.
The 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed
29 people, also remains unsolved.
--
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>
<http://mrzine.org>
<http://monthlyreview.org/>
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Currently based in Venezuela.
NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBERS
Can be reached at
Residencias Anauco Suites
Departamento 601
Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1
Caracas, Venezuela
(58-212) 573-6333, 571-1520, 571-3820 (or hotel cell: 0412-200-7540)
fax: (58-212) 573-7724
