BUENOS AIRES (JTA) — The president of Argentina laid three wreaths at the central Jewish institution in Buenos Aires to recall terrorist attacks against the local Jewish community.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Dec. 18 made her first visit to the AMIA center since assuming the presidency.
Fernandez de Kirchner placed the bouquets at the building’s entrance as a tribute to the victims of the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing, the 1994 AMIA bombing and the 1976-83 Argentine military government.
Security measures were strict. Several guards were placed throughout the building, which was inspected beforehand by two dogs from the Anti-Explosives Brigade.
The monthly demonstration held by the AMIA attack victims’ relatives group was held the morning of the visit.
Fernandez de Kirchner and AMIA leadership discussed international terrorism and the strategies of the U.S. administration to deal with it. They also discussed the AMIA bombing case, which remains unsolved. AMIA members agreed to host a special unit for investigating the attack, which killed 85, but asked the government for more concrete advances in the case.
Lunch participants included members of the AMIA executive committee, Justice Minister Anibal Fernandez, Internal Affairs Minister Florencio Randazzo and the Argentine ambassador to the United States, Hector Timerman.
AMIA leaders presented Fernandez de Kirchner with a chanukiyah as gift.
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