[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7279-S7280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PUNISHING THE ATTACKERS OF THE AMIA JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN 
                               ARGENTINA

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 644, S. Res. 
329.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 329) urging the Government of 
     Argentina to pursue and punish those responsible for the 1994 
     attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, 
     Argentina.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today the Senate is considering and 
will likely pass Senate Resolution 329, which urges the Government of 
Argentina to pursue and punish those responsible for the 1994 attack on 
the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On June 
28th, Senator Helms joined me in introducing this resolution, which was 
reported out of the Foreign Relations Committee that same day.
  Six years ago, a car bomb ripped through the AMIA Jewish Community 
Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 86 people and wounding 300 
more. Two years before that, a similar attack had devastated the 
Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 people and wounding over 
200. These heinous terrorist attacks have reverberated loudly in 
Argentina, home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America. These 
cowardly acts also reminded us, as Americans, that terrorism can strike 
anywhere at any moment.
  I applaud President Fernando de la Rua's stated resolve to bring to 
justice those responsible for these atrocious crimes. However, the 
Government of Argentina has not, to this date, succeeded in completing 
its prosecution of this important case. In addition, investigative 
findings in Buenos Aires have implicated local authorities--including 
security officials--as party responsible for the attacks.
  Senate Resolution 329 is a reiteration of the U.S. condemnation of 
this terrorist act, as well as a call for justice in Argentina. This 
resolution not only urges Argentina to punish those responsible for the 
AMIA bombing, but it also calls on the U.S. Government and the 
Organization of American States to lend support to this prosecution.
  Our commitment to assist our neighbors to the south must embody the 
very principles that have guided our Nation in implementing democratic

[[Page S7280]]

governance and the rule of law. In that regard, the United States must 
continue to speak out about the blatant massacre of innocent people, 
and the subsequent difficulty in bringing to justice those responsible 
for this crime.
  I appreciate the cooperation of all of my colleagues in having this 
important resolution considered and passed by the Senate.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an amendment 
at the desk to the resolution be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 3939) was agreed to, as follows:

                (Purpose: To make a technical amendment)

       On page 3, line 7 and 8, strike ``its promise to the 
     Argentine people'' and insert ``other commitments''.

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an amendment 
to the preamble which is at the desk be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 3940) was agreed to, as follows:

            (Purpose: Technical amendments to the preamble)

       In the fourth whereas clause, insert ``at that time'' after 
     ``forces''.
       In the seventh whereas clause, insert ``has issued an 
     arrest warrant against a leader of the Islamic Jihad but'' 
     after ``Argentina''.
       After the eighth whereas clause, insert the following:
       ``Whereas the Government of Argentina was successful in 
     enacting a law on cooperation from defendants in terrorist 
     matters, a law that will be helpful in pursuing full 
     prosecution in this and other terrorist cases;''.

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be 
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 329), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:
  [The resolution was not available for printing. It will appear in a 
future edition of the Record.]

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