Page 348 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/16 : NLC-133-144-5-2-7
Department of State
BRIEFING PAPER

Argentina

Delegation: Foreign Minister Carlos Washington
Pastor will head the GOA delegation. Other members
unknown. A retired, 56 year-old, Air Force Brigadier
General, Pastor was appointed Foreign Minister
in November 1978 by President Videla. He had
no previous diplomatic experience, and his appointment
was attributed to his close ideological affinity
with Videla and his marriage to the President's
sister. Pastor is not believed to be well versed
in foreign affairs and has not won wide respect;
he is regarded, however, as hard working and
conscientious. He is generally pro-U.S., but
strongly disagrees with U.S. human rights policy.
He speaks no English.

Indochina Refugee Policy: The GOA expressed
its intention to receive 100 Indochinfese in 1978
and recently announced that it woifld receive
300 family groups from Indochina. It also recently
doubled its financial contribution to the UNHCR
for assistance to Indochinese refugees.

Rescue of Refugees at Sea: The GOA has
instructed its Merchant Marine to rescue refugees
encountered at sea. We have no reports of specific
incidents of rescue and do not know what procedures
would be followed.

Likely Future Policy: The GOA can be expected
to continue its willingness to receive small
numbers of refugees, conditioned on its resettlement
experience with those it is already pledged to
receive.

Department of State
July 16, 1979

DECLASSIFIED
E.Q. 13526
GDS 7/16/79 Authority M S-a -1
NARA—fib P___Date

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/06/16 : NLC-133-144-5-2-7