Argentina: Taking on the burden of justice

Pedro G. Cavallero describes how despite an erratic and contradictory foreign policy, the administration of Nestor Kirchner in Argentina may have finally found the right path. In Cavallero‘s opinion, in supporting Venezuela‘s candidacy to the UN Security Council, Argentina was also supporting Venezuela‘s ally, Iran, believed to be responsible for the double bombings in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. Yet, the recent court decision to issue international arrest warrants for those Iranians responsible for the attacks signifies that finally Argentina has chosen to take on the burden of justice.

Pedro German Cavallero is a policy analyst based in Washington DC. He holds a master degree in Comparative Law and comments regularly on U.S. foreign policy and inter-American affairs.

SINCE THE CANDIDATES WERE ANNOUNCED, the Kirchner administration in Argentina has lobbied extensively among Latin American governments in favour of Venezuela’s election to a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Yet despite heavy spending and a large concerted effort, it was Panama that was elected in the end, dashing Kirchner and Chavez’ hopes for Venezuelan involvement.

Argentina provided its unwavering support for Venezuela throughout the entire campaign, without regard for the often extremely disturbing viewpoints that President Chavez has expressed: among them support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions, agreement with the mullah’s anti-Israeli rhetoric, and flirtation with anti-Semitism.

CHAVEZ’ DISTURBING VIEWS
In one of President Chavez’ world tours, he addressed a crowd in C