Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Department of State
Washington, DC
August 20, 2002

Argentina: Declassification of Documents Related to Human Rights Abuses Occurring Between 1975–1984

Today the Department of State is releasing newly declassified documents related to human rights abuses and political violence in Argentina from 1975 to 1984. These documents include the period of the military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, preceding events and the return to democracy.

We are releasing these documents to assist Argentina in investigating acts of violence during the time period covered. This release responds to a variety of requests, including from the Government of Argentina; the Government of Uruguay; the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo; and the United States Congress. These documents are also responsive to mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) requests to the Department of Justice from Argentina, Italy and Spain in connection with criminal investigations of human rights violations.

Today’s release will take place simultaneously here and in Buenos Aires. Hard copies of the documents will shortly be presented to the other governments that have requested them.

This release consists of approximately 4,700 documents. A complete set of the released documents is available for public review at the Department of State FOIA Reading Room. Copies of the documents will be available on the Internet at http://foia.state.gov.

[End]

Released on August 20, 2002