Adviser to Argentine President Fired for Sending Beef to Iraq
Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem has fired an adviser for sending 140 tons of beef to Iraq through Iran in violation of the international trade embargo.
A government statement said that Alberto Samid was dismissed “for having collaborated with the government of Iraq in open violation of Decree 1560.”
On Aug. 15, Menem issued the decree pledging Argentine support for the U.N. economic embargo against Iraq because of its Aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait.
Samid, who like the president is of Arab descent, is a Peronist party deputy for the Buenos Aires provincial government and owner of a meat packing company.
In recent television interviews, Samid has supported Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and referred to “our brother Saddam” in praising Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Argentina last week decided to send a destroyer, corvette and 450 men to join the multinational blockade of Iraq. The ships are scheduled to leave the navy base at Puerto Belgrano, on the Atlantic, on Tuesday.
The government statement announcing Samid’s firing said the illegal meat shipment is under investigation and that anyone found guilty of involvement will be punished.
In its Sunday edition, the newspaper Clarin reported that the meat was sent about two weeks ago by plane to Iran and later was transported to Iraq.
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