ROBERTO EDUARDO VIOLA - ARGENTINA - 1978/09/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628126
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: September 18, 1978

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Roberto Eduardo VIOLA MICRORLMED
ARGENTINA
(Phonetic: vee0illah)
Commander in Chief of
the Army; Member, Ruling
Junta (since August 1978)
It. Gen. Roberto Viola
was promoted to Commander
in Chief of the Army and
member of the ruling junta
after serving since 1975
as Army Chief of Staff.
A personal friend of and a
key advisor to President
Jorge Videla, Viola assumed
Videla's position on the
junta when the latter retired from the military to become the
civilian President in August 1978.
Before the military coup of March 1976, Viola enjoyed the
respect of both his peers and his subordinates, but since then
he has b2come the target of considerable criticism by those
who disagree with his moderate philosophy. Unlike many of his
colleagues, particularly 'hardliners" like Carlos Suarez Mason,
who retired as Commander of the First Army Corps in August 1978,
Viola believes that the government must maintain a channel of
communication with political and labor organizations. Some
Argentine observers claim that his openness to dialogue with
various sectors outside the military stems from personal ambition;
they allege that he wants to build his own power base in the hope
of becoming President. Other detractors accuse Viola of adversely
influencing Videla, who might govern more forcefully and dynamically
without him.
3.3(b)(1)
!Viola and Videla are both "cut of the same cloth.
both are low-key! but Viola controls 3.3(b)(1)
the army and at the mrment that's what counts." officials
who have met Viola are generally impressed by his frankness,
cordiality and objectivity. He has been-a major influence in the
governirt-It's move to reverse Argentina's human rights abuses and
is optiristic about improvements in US-Argentine relations.
117
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CR M 78-14984
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NOFORN/WARNING NOTICE-SENSITIVE NTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
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Roberto Eduardo Violawas hora�W 13 October 1924 in
Buenos Aires. An infantry officer, he graduated from the
Argentine Military Academy in 1949, from the Superior War
School in 1955 and from the Center for Higher Studies in 1966.
He served as military advisor to the Inter-American Defense
Board from 1967 to 1969, as subdirector and then acting director
of the Military Academy from 1971 to 1972 and as commander of
the Third Infantry Brigade in Corrientes Province in 1973. In
late 1973 he was named secretary general of the Army General
Staff, a new post that replaced the Army's G-5 position
(Policy, Research and Development).-, He held the post until
1975, when he became commander of the Second Army. Corps in
Rosario. He was promoted to army Chief of Staff in August
1975 when Videla vacated the post to become Commander in Chief
of the Army.
As Army Chief of Staff, Viola was intimately involved in
planning the military coup that ousted President Maria de Peron
in March 1976. Like Videla, he had long advocated keeping the
military out of the internal political imbroglio. By October
1975, however, he had become convinced of the necessity of
intervening in the moribund Peroni government.
Viola is often described as a nker" concerned with
social as well as political issues. Cautious and reserved.
he is quiet, intelligent and straightforward.
The general is exceedingly
hardworking,
He is a chain smoker. Married
has a grown son and daughter.
some English.
to the former Nelida Giorgio, he
Viola speaks French, Italian and
18 September 1978
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Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628126
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