The US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro informs the State Department in Washington about charges made by the UNHCR's acting representative regarding the increasing security threats to Argentine political refugees in Brazil.

This telegram from the US State Department reports that the UNHCR office in Buenos Aires (Argentina) has been raided. The event may have been intended as a warning following the critical statements made by former Uruguayan senator Enrique Erro in Geneva about his detention in Argentina. 

The document claims that the UNHCR has 50 cases of Bolivian, Chilean, Paraguayan, and Uruguayan refugees in Argentina.

In this document addressed to the US Embassy in Paraguay, the State Department reports on the development of Condor from intelligence sharing to potential assassination operations outside of member countries. The security services of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay originally committed to partaking in operations outside South America but Uruguay is now reconsidering further participation followed a failed mission.

This document records a conversation with the Regional Representative for the UNHCR, Robert Muller, regarding the situation of refugees in Argentina since the military coup in March 1976. Muller reports that high-profile cases including the death of Uruguayan exiles Gutierrez Ruiz and Zelmar Michelini and former Bolivian President Torres have raised alarm among the exile community in Argentina. He mentions the potential operation of Paraguayan security forces in Argentina against opponents of the Paraguayan military regime.

The CIA reports that a high-level official of the Ministry of the Interior has claimed that Operation Condor has become ineffective due to a lack of coordination between member countries.

In this report, the CIA members that all Condor member countries met in Buenos Aires from 13 to 16 December 1976 to review past activities and discuss future plans. The main item on the agenda was the discussion and planning of coordinated psychological warfare activities.

This report is addressed to the head delegate Dr. Silvio Pereira Machado. The unknown writer of this correspondence recounts that, on 15th April 1977, he or she accompanied two Argentine Federal Police officers to a meeting with the Colonel Felix de Souza in São Paulo under the request of the Argentine consul Julio Alfredo Freixas. The Argentine police asked for two Argentine citizens to be arrested while they were living in São Paulo. The unknown writer adds that on 19th April 1977, the Argentine police officers returned to Buenos Aires (Argentine), bringing two prisoners with them. The document is not signed.

This CIA document reports that a new countersubversive unit has been created within the Federal Security Section of the Argentine Federal Police to strengthen the fight against subversion (particularly the Montoneros). The new unit is organised by an officer from the Army's 601 Intelligence Battalion but is staffed by police personnel.

This telegram from the US Embassy in Brazil to the State Department reports that the UNHCR will be visiting Brazil to investigate the situation of refugees in the country. The UNHCR suspects that 1,000 Argentine citizens are seeking asylum in Brazil. The UNHCR flags the cooperation between the Bolivian and Argentine security forces for the refoulment of Argentine refugees but claims that the Brazilian security forces are yet to return Argentine exiles.

This CIA report claims that a training course was held in Buenos Aires to prepare Condor teams to carry out missions against high-profile individuals located outside of member countries including politicians, members of guerrilla movements, and activists from international human rights organisations.

Telex A107/B, dated 23 May 1977 (Clear), sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIPLOMACIA) to the Embassy of Uruguay in Argentina (URUBAIRES), ordering an urgent enquiry into the whereabouts of Uruguayan citizen Andrés Humberto Bellizzi.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Consulate General / Year 1977 / Box 4 / Folder B1 / 1 page.

The CIA reports that a special team has been formed to assassinate Argentine guerrilla leaders exiled in Europe. Following a failed initial attempt to assassinate the Head of the Montoneros, Mario Firmenich, in Spain, plans are now being formulated to kill Rodolfo Galimberti, a Montonero leader who is believed to be in Mexico.

In this document, the CIA reports on a secret meeting between representatives from all of Operation Condor's member countries, which took place from 13 to 16 December 1977 in Buenos Aires. The CIA mentions that it is unaware of any Condor operations taking place either in the US or Europe.

In this letter, the Chief of the DOPS, Sérgio Paranhos Fleury reiterates a previous request to the Argentine Consul in São Paolo. He asks for personal details such as the passport of Argentine citizen, Miguel Ángel Ricci, who at the time is being held at the DOPS detention centre in São Paolo. The letter is signed by Sérgio Paranhos Fleury, Chief of the DOPS.

This memorandum mentions that the CIA was continuing to monitor Condor but it was becoming increasingly difficult since member countries were tightening security.

This is a copy obtained by the CIA of the 'text of the agreement by Condor countries regulating their operations against subversive targets'- a detailed planning paper on financing, staffing, logistics, training, and selection of targets for Condor's 'Teseo' death squad operations. The Teseo Operations Centre would be based in Buenos Aires.

Text of the agreement by Condor countries regulating their operations against subversive targets is dated September 1976, entitled "Teseo Regulation, Operations Center,” which was distributed by the CIA in August 1977. It provides general guidelines for the overall planning of those operations to be undertaken, a staffing outline, financing, logistics, a selection of targets, communication and liaison, training and compartmentation and an end summary.

In this document addressed to the US Secretary of State in Washington, the US Consul in Rio de Janeiro mentions the report filed by Argentine refugee Guillermo Cesar Torres Castaños to the UNHCR. Torres Castaños claims to have been kidnapped in Brazil, where he was later tortured by both local security forces and Argentine Federal Police officers.

The document reports on the expansion of Condor's operations to Western Europe. Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina are allegedly the only member countries to have carried out plans for Western European operations and all assassination plans had been dropped by late 1976.  Brazil's dwindling attendance to Condor meetings and the potential entry of Peru are also mentioned.

The Argentine State Intelligence Service (SIDE) invited the Peruvian National Intelligence Service (SIN) to join the “Condor” group, subject to the approval of the other member countries. SIN agreed to a SIDE request to attempt to locate Argentine exiles in Peru.

Note 8-5/977(2111), dated 30 September, from the Uruguayan Ambassador in the Republic of Argentina to the Consul General of the Republic in Buenos Aires, acknowledging receipt of the note detailing the disappearance of the citizen Mario Roger Julien Cáceres. The note orders that no action be taken, on the grounds that his family is not of Uruguayan nationality.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Consulate General Reports / Year 1977 / Confidential Documents Box 1 / Folder H8-3 / 1 page.

The telegram writes that the governor of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, Leonel Brizola, arrived in Buenos Aires the previous night according to press reports. The military attaché is already in contact with the corresponding Argentine organisations to carry out the necessary arrangements. As soon as the requested information is received, it will be sent straight to the Ministry. The telegram comes from the Brazilian ambassador in Buenos Aires, Claúdio Garcia de Souza.

This document records information about the governor of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, Leonel Brizola that the military attaché had received from the Uruguayan Secretaría de Informaciones de Estado (State Information Secretariat, SIDE). Since his arrival in Buenos Aires, Leonel had been staying in an apartment on Uruguay Street. On the day that the telegram was sent, Brizola was due to leave the apartment for Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport, where he would take the 8pm flight to New York with various stopovers along the way. The telegram comes from the Brazilian ambassador in Buenos Aires, Claúdio Garcia de Souza.

The document recounts that Leonel Brizola and his companions did not embark on the Braniff flight to New York as originally planned. Rather, they later travelled on the flight no. 300 operated by  Aerolíneas Argentinas which covers the Buenos Aires- New York route, without the normal layover. The telegram is from Cláudio Garcia de Souza, Brazilian Ambassador to Argentina.

Note 2/977 - 1193, dated 29 September, from the District Consulate of Uruguay in Buenos Aires to the Consul General of the Republic in Buenos Aires, forwarding information received from the Argentine Federal Police’s Search Division for Disappeared People regarding Mario Roger Julién Cáceres and his family. The note details Julién Cáceres’s criminal record and his links to the “Tupamaros” Movement.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Consulate General Reports / Year 1977 / Confidential Box 1 / Folder E / 1 page.

Note 1068/977, dated 30 September 1977, from the Consulate General of the Republic in Buenos Aires to the Embassy of Uruguay in the Republic of Argentina, forwarding records of the disappearance of the Julien Grisonas family. The note details the complaint filed by Mrs. María Angélica Cáceres de Julien concerning the disappearance of her son and his family.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Consulate General Reports / Year 1977 / Confidential Documents Box 1 / Folder H8-3 / 3 pages.

The US Embassy in Paraguay shares reports with the State Department that the Argentine government had allegedly offered to exchange Paraguayan doctor and Colorado Party member, Agustín Goiburú Giménez for a political prisoner whom the Argentine police had turned over to the Paraguayan police in 1976. The United States has expressed concerns regarding the whereabouts of Goiburú's fellow Colorado Party leader, Epifanio Méndez Fleitas.

This document reports the arrest and potential extradition to Paraguay of exiled head of Paraguay's Colorado Party (MOPOCO) Epifanio Mendez Fleitas and his son. 

In this document, the CIA reports on the pressure from the Argentine military regime for Paraguay to join "Teseo", an action unit established by member countries of Operation Condor to conduct physical attacks against political opponents of the Southern Cone's military regimes. Teseo is based at the 601 Intelligence Battalion in Buenos Aires.

CIA document on the expansion of Operation Condor.

This memorandum for the Secretary of State reports that it has been decided that the Ecuadorian and Peruvian intelligence services will be invited to join Operation Condor.

Circular 57AD, dated 23 December 1977, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIPLOMACIA) to the Embassy of Uruguay in Argentina (URUBAIRES). It transcribes Communiqué No. 1,378 issued by the Joint Forces’ Press Office, reporting on the dismantling of a cell belonging to the Marxist Montoneros Movement in Uruguay.
The note orders that said information should be used to respond to any petitions or protests which arise in support of those involved.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Subversion / Year 1977 / Confidential Documents Box 2 / Folder H3-1 / 4 pages.

The CIA reports on the withdrawal of the Brazilian observers from Operation Condor. This comes after Brazil failed to send any representatives to the meeting in Buenos Aires on 3-6 October 1977.

Circular 60AD, dated 29 December 1977, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIPLOMACIA) to the Embassy of Uruguay in Argentina (URUBAIRES), transcribing Communiqué No. 1,379 from the Joint Forces Press Office. The communiqué reports on the indictment of Argentine citizens, who were members of the Montoneros group in Uruguay.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Subversion / Year 1977 / Confidential Documents Box 2 / Folder H3-1 / 2 pages.

List of Uruguayans disappeared in 1978 and reappeared in Uruguay or in Argentina. 

Circular 1AD, dated 2 January 1978, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIPLOMACIA) to the Permanent Mission of the Republic to the United Nations – Geneva (URUGI), transcribing Communiqué No. 1,380 from the Joint Forces Press Office. It reports on the operation which led to the death of the Argentine Barry–Mata couple, members of the Montoneros group.

Location: Administrative Archive – Section: Directorate of Special Affairs – Department of Human Rights / Series: Press Releases – DINARP Box 11B / Folder A / 1 page.

This document from the US Embassy in Uruguay reports that Argentine Montonero Ruben de Gregorio was apprehended by the Uruguayan authorities upon attempting to enter Uruguay illegally while carrying arms. Ruben de Gregorio was turned over to the Argentine authorities.

Note 4/78-0011, dated 5 January 1978, from the Ambassador of Uruguay in Brazil – General (Ret.) Eduardo Zubía, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adolfo Folle Martínez. Attached is Confidential Circular Note No. 94 DCN/700 (846) from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting the reciprocal application of Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. This request arose from the detention of the Brazilian journalist Flavio Tavarez in Uruguay.

Location: Department of Historical–Diplomatic Archives – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Brazil / Series: Confidential Notes Sent / Year 1979 / Box 14 / Folder 3 / 2 pages.

This document addressed to the US Secretary of State from the US Ambassador to Argentina mentions the visit of the UN High Commissioner for Refugee's (UNHCR), Kevin Lyonette, to Argentina. Lyonette expressed concern regarding the potential arrest and refoulment of up to 25 Uruguayans living in Buenos Aires between December 1977 and January 1978.

Missing parliamentarian Jaime Feliciano Dri Lodi arrested in Montevideo during a round-up of security forces of Argentine Montoneros operating clandestinely in Uruguay.

This CIA document records that Ecuador has joined Operation Condor with the name Condor 7. The Ecuadorian Army is responsible for intelligence reporting and sharing through the Directorate General of Intelligence; the Navy is responsible for telecommunications; and the air force is responsible for psychological warfare.

This 'Weekly Report on International Terrorism' by the US government focuses on Ecuador's recent accession to Operation Condor in January 1978.

The US Embassy in Buenos Aires briefs the State Department in Washington on reports from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) regarding a list of Uruguayan nationals who were apprehended by Argentine security forces in December 1977.

The report records that, between 16th and 20th December 1977, the guerrilla group Montoneros held a meeting in Santos city situated in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. During this meeting, they discussed the operations to be carried out during the World Cup in Argentina. The Montoneros organisation is going to ramp up its operations during the World Cup, aiming to hijack the radio and television transmissions to spread messages against the Argentine government. The report is not signed.

Visit of representatives of West German, French and British Intelligence Services to Argentina to discuss methods for establishment of an anti-subversive organisation similar to “Condor”.

The CIA reports that representatives from West German, French, and British intelligence services had visited the Condor organisation secretariat in Buenos Aires in September 1977 to discuss methods of establishing an anti-subversive organisation similar to Operation Condor.

Por medio del presente documento, el director chileno de la Central Nacional de Informaciones envia al Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores una copia de la Acta clausura de la Primera Reunión Interamericana de Inteligencia Nacional.

In this document addressed to the US Secretary of State in Washington, the US Ambassador to Argentina flags the potential refoulment of 21 Uruguayan refugees exiled in Argentina. This issue was brought to the attention of Embassy staff in Buenos Aires by UNHCR officials.

Note H3-2/978 (723), dated 21 April 1978, from the Embassy of Uruguay in the Republic of Argentina to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Alejandro Rovira, forwarding a copy of Official Note No. 317-978 from the Consulate General. The note reports on the inquiries carried out by the District Consulate in Buenos Aires concerning the disappearance of the Zaffaroni–Islas family.

Location: Department of the Historical and Diplomatic Archive – Section: Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Argentina / Series: Subversion – Information on Individuals / Year 1978 / Confidential Documents Box 3 / Folder H3-2 / 5 pages.