MEETING WITH PRESIDENT VIDELA OF ARGENTINA FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1977, 9:00 A.M. - 1977/09/07

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626706
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: September 7, 1977

MEMORANDUM
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DECLASSIFICATION AND/OR RELEASE
OF THIS DOCUMENT DATE: 22-Oct-2018
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON
INFORMATION
Memo No. 1417-77
MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
FROM: Denis
SUBJECT:
CONFIDENTIAL
September 7, 1977
Meeting with President Videla of Argentina
Friday, September 9, 1977, 9:00 a.m.
The paper for the meeting you and the President will have
with President Jorge Rafael Videla of Argentina is at
Tab A.
The Argentine President's biographic sketch is at Tab B.
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PARTICIPANTS
ARGENTINA
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ARGENTINA
President Jorge Rafael Videla
(HORhay RAFAIel VeeDEHleh)
Vice Admiral Oscar Montes,
Foreign Minister
(OHScar MOHNtes)
vs.
The: President
The Secretary
Dr: Zbigniew Brzezinski.
Assistant Secretary Todman
Charge. Maxwell Chaplin
.Mr. Robert Pastor
Checklist
Courtesy Point.- We want to thank. President Videla
for his warm reception of Assistant Secretary
Todman on his recent trip to Argentina.
Human Rights -'We want to impress on the Argentines
our concern over their continuing gross violations
of basic.human rights. We. understand that they
inherited a chaotic mess, but terrorism is now
largely controlled. .Human rights violations con-
tinue however. We think 'nowis. the time to move
ahead. We are heartened to hear'of releases of
prisoners and the reinstatement of the "right of
option".
Non-proliferation and the Treaty of Tlatelolco -
We want to impress on the Argentines the danger
of nuclear arms proliferation; full safeguards
are a necessity. We also want them to ratify the
Treaty of Tlatelolco to indicate Argentine dedi-
cation to peaceful uses of atomic energy.
-- Malvinas/Falkland Islands - We want to stay out of
this Argentine--UK dispute. We are pleased that
.
conversations, are going on between the two govern-
.ments to resolve the questions.
Helicopter Sale - (If raised by President Videla) -
We limited the equipment which will be supplied
on the eight commercial Model 212 Bell helicopters
because of present problems in the human rights
field.
-- Trade - Point out that current US health and cus-
tom regulations will not allow. Argentine fresh
meat to enter the US:
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ARGENTINA
I. Setting
President Jorge Rafael Videla came to power in a
March .1976 coup d'etat. Economic instability and right-
wing and left-wing violence were rampant. The new
government took the form of a Junta-composed of the
chiefs of the three armed services with Videla (Army)
as President. It. had two primary goals: elimination of
-terrorism and restoration of the economy.
The struggle against terrorism from the left is now
largely won, but the excesses of counterterrorism remain
a serious problem. Some of the security forces are
running out of control. We believe that President Videla
is a moderate who probably would constrain such right-
wing terrorism if hecould, but pressure from hard-line-
military officers restricts his freedom' to act. Some. -
progress in human rights has been made; however. Prison-
ers have been released and the Argentines' have announced
they will soon reinstate the "right of option".
The once powerful trade unions are under tight wraps
and many of their leaders have "disappeared". The govern-
ment is considering a plan for incorporating civilians
into political process, but no action has yet been taken. .
In the security field we are concerned that the
Argentines $350 million.favorable trade balance with the
Soviet Union, may lead them to seek Russian weapons.. Our
restrictions on arms sales for human rights reasons pushes
them toward the Russians.
.In the economic field, the Videla government began to
reverse the populist programs of the Peronist years by
reestablishing a free market economy. The results have
been generally very successful; but inflation remains a
continuing problem and labor has been squeezed. The U.S.
had a $250 million favorable trade balance with Argentina
in 1976.
U.S.-Argentina difficulties relate to the excesses of
counterterrorism and our general concerns regarding nuclear
proliferation. (The latter issue is now. coming to the fore.)
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II. Issues
I. Human Rights
The human rights situation in Argentina is the
principal obstacle to closer relations. There have
been some improvement,, including the release of some
prisoners and an announcement that the "right of option"
will soon be reinstated. However, the Argentine govern-
ment continues to refuse to acknowledge the names of
thousands of political prisoners. 'Disappearances,
summary executions, torture, and instances Of anti-
Semitism also occur.,
As the result of human rights violations, we pro-
posed a reduced FMS credits program for. FY '78.
Argentina rejected the proposal but kept the door open
to FMS sales and training. We. have not signed the FY '77
FMS agreement for human rights reasons.. We are now
refusing all military items for internal security use.
All other requests for military items are reviewed on a
case-by-case basis.
. -
. � The Argentines will not participate inthis years
joint US-Latin American fleet exercise .(UNITAS). Their
stated reason for nonparticipation is "difficulty in
obtaining small parts" for their.ships. We believe it is
a protest of our arms sales policy.
The Kennedy-Humphrey amendment to this year's sec�
urity assistance bill will virtually eliminate military
ties to Argentina on October 1, 1978.
We have abstained, voted against and pressed the
Argentines to Withdraw loan proposals in the international
financial institutions. There is no AID program in
Argentina 'because of its high per, capita income.
'Talking Points
The United States recognizes that Argentina has
been victim of a brutal terrorist campaign.
TheArgentine government has decisively mastered
the security situation, but it does not appear to
be moving with sufficient speed and determination
to abolish lawlessness by security forces and
others.
-- We are concerned that people are being repressed
simply because they dissent. Lawful opposition
should not be confused with subversion.
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-- We strongly urge an end to the state of siege and
the public listing of all prisoners showing their
-place of detention and the charges against them.
Due process should be restored and all future ex-
cesses punished.
-- Reports of continued torture and disappearances
are distressing.
-- We want to express our concern over the case of
Jewish publisher Jacob� Timmerman of the respected
daily La Opinion. ' He is being held. without char-
ges. Shouldan outbreak of anti-semitism occur it
would be mOst harmful to US-Argentine relations.
We do recognize the partial steps taken by the
Argentine government to assure basic human rights.
The May release of prisoners and the recently
announced intention to restore the "right of
option" are positive indications of such Argentine
movement. (The "right of option" allows Argentine.
citizens to leave country if held under State of
Siege proVisions.)
-- We think it essential for the government to recog-
nize its unquestioned strength. It should begin
to gamble on the side of returning the country to
the rule of law.
-- Human rights concerns will not permit us to sign
the FY 1977 FMS credits. '
-- We regret the Argentine nonparticipation in the
UNITAS exercise but appreciate their offer of.
logistic support. We look forward to their re-
joining UNITAS in the future.-
.
2. -Non-Proliferation and the Treaty of Tlatelolco
:Argentina has the most advanced nuclear capability
of any Latin American state and the greatest potential for
an autonomous fuel cycle. The Argentine government has
stated that it seeks nuclear technology in order to satisy
its energy needs and .for strictly peaceful purposes. We
are concerned, however, because of Argentina's apparent.
progress toward acquiring an independent, unsafeguarded
reprocessing capacity. We are considering the transfer of
sensitive heavy water technology to the Argentines if they
will forego reprocessing and accept full scope safeguards.
The Argentines recently signed a limited safeguards agree-
ment with Canada covering previously purchased nuclear
fuel. They are now discussing with the Canadians the poss-
ibility of accepting full scope safeguards in return for ,
further Canadian technical assistance in the nuclear area.
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Talking Points
The United States is concerned over the possible
spread of nuclear explosive capabilities. We
feel the world community must take steps to re-
duce this growing danger.
-- At the same time, the United States recognizes
. the need for states to expand and diversify
their energy resources on a secure basis..
-- We applaud the recent Argentine-Canadian limited
� safeguard agreement.
�
-- Ratification of the Treaty of Tlatelolco would
demonstrate Argentine.committment to the peace-
ful uses of nuclear energy.
-- The US is considering Argentine requests for
technical assistance and nuclearcooperation.
Specific requests relating to nuclear fuel are
also under study.
'3. The Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
Argentina has disputed British possession of the
Malvinas (Falkland Islands) since 1833. The 2,000
inhabitants, of the islands want nothing to do with
Argentina. The issue is further complicated by possibly
large oil reserves in the Falkland Island shelf. In July,
the UK and Argentina began another round in a series of
conversations. about sovereignty ;of the islands. The. US
has not taken sides in this dispute. (In talking, with .
Videla you should use the Argentine name, Malvinas.)
Talking Points
We are pleased that Argentina and the UK are
� carrying on conversations directed toward re-
solving this question.
4. Sale of Helicopters (If raised by GOA)
We have agreed to sell the Argentine military eight
Bell 212 commercial model helicopters, two of which will be
used to transport President Videla. However, we did not
agree to the original configuration requested by the
Argentines. Machine gun mounts were eliminated on all of
the eight, and armor plating Was permitted only on those two
aircraft to be used for President Videla's security.
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