A Meeting on International Legal Cooperation on Criminal Matters was held on Friday 31 May, at the Libertador Room of Palacio San Martín. It was organized by the Public Prosecution Service of the City of Buenos Aires together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Secretariat for Coordination and External Planning (SECIN), headed by Ambassador Ernesto A. Gaspari, the General Directorate for Legal Affairs (DIAJU), the General Directorate for International Legal Advice (DAJIN) and the Directorate for National Affairs (DINAC).
The meeting, aimed at sharing good practices and experiences to strengthen the tools for international legal cooperation on criminal matters, was attended by a number of Prosecutors of the City of Buenos Aires.
The Foreign Ministry’s General Director for Legal Affairs, Víctor Antonio Malavolta, opened the event by highlighting the importance of strengthening international legal cooperation mechanisms in general and on criminal matters in particular, to prevent and fight against all forms of crime, which are more challenging and inventive every day. In addition, he underscored the Foreign Ministry’s role as Central Authority of and nexus for International Legal Cooperation, as well as a versatile tool to achieve greater federalization of the justice system. Finally, he expressed his desire that this event promote joint and continued work to provide comprehensive mutual legal assistance and better solutions to the challenges of an increasingly complex world.
During the event, Román Rosenstein and Niki López presented the practical aspects of Video-conferencing in Criminal Proceedings; the Director for International Legal Advice, Aldana Rohr, addressed the Formation of Joint Teams for Investigation and Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime; the Coordinator of International Cooperation on Criminal Matters, Mariela Bondar, together with Belén Servidio, first talked about the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on Enhanced Cooperation and disclosure of Electronic Evidence, and then about Preventive Detentions before Extradition through Diplomatic Channels and Interpol Red Notices; and, finally, Marco Atilio Belotti talked about the Practical Aspects of Extraditions Requested by Argentina.
During his closing remarks, the General Director for Legal Affairs thanked the Attorney General of the City of Buenos Aires, Juan Bautista Mahiques; Ambassador Gaspari and prosecuting authorities for participating in the meeting and highlighted the importance of joint work between the Foreign Ministry and Argentine judicial and prosecuting authorities.
This event is part of the Foreign Ministry’s role in the processes related to the topics discussed and in the application and harmonization of the Argentine International Cooperation on Criminal Matters Act (law no. 24767) and the International Treaties signed and ratified by the Argentine Republic.
