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Updated August 2007
Missile Chronology
1991
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1991
Cavallo becomes Minister of Economy, and quickly concludes that without terminating the Cóndor, Argentina cannot achieve good relations with the United States or receive debt assistance from the World Bank.
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 52.
1991
Di Tella meets William Price in Washington and relates that the Argentine government does not know what is happening with the Cóndor project and cannot guarantee that missile parts are being destroyed. He also meets with James Baker. After these interviews, US pressure mounts against Argentina.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 143-144.
1991
The Conversion Plan for the Argentine economy and announcement of the dismantling of the Cóndor project improve US-Argentine economic relations.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 89.
January 1991
By presidential direction and under duress, the Argentine Air Force escorts a dozen US officials on a tour of facilities related to the Cóndor, including sites in San Miguel, Falda del Carmen, Chamical, Fábrica Militar de Aviones de Córdoba, and launch stations in Punta Rasa, Chubut, and Mar Chiquita. At Falda del Carmen, they reportedly viewed mobile missile launchers as well as solid-fuel production facilities. The US officials are not convinced that Cóndor termination has been implemented, and provide a secret written report to US Ambassador Todman, who forwards this information to the Chancellery and the Air Force. Todman and Juanarena meet in the foyer of the Casa Rosada, where Juanarena accuses Todman of sending CIA agents rather than technicians.
—Martin Granovsky, Misión cumplida: La presión norteamericana sobre la Argentina, de Braden a Todman (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 201-202; Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 74; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II. (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 104-105.
January 1991
Minister of Economy Cavallo goes on a public offensive against the Cóndor and Radical Civic Union (UCR) officials, and Juanarena seeks to rebut this criticism. Cavallo insinuates that President Alfonsín and his ministers signed secret contracts regarding the Cóndor II, and that bribes were paid to maintain secrecy and facilitate illicit transactions.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 73; "Suborno iraquiano acelerou projeto de míssil argentino," O Estado De São Paulo, 7 March 1991, p. 11.
January 1991
The Swiss-based Consen group of companies reportedly has been almost totally liquidated. Switzerland's Consen of Zug has gone into liquidation and IFAT, another key Swiss firm, is proceeding likewise. In Salzburg, Austria, Consen affiliates Delta Consult and Delta System are being "wound down," with one to be liquidated and the other reduced to a token existence. Another related firm, Tema, located in France, is close to being dissolved.
—"Take-Off Delayed," Middle East, January 1991, p. 16.
January 1991
Gente interviews Ernesto Crespo, Commander in Chief of the Argentine Air Force, in his home, and asks critically whether the Cóndor II was not really more his project than that of the Argentine Air Force. Crespo responds that he made the Cóndor happen.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 132.
January 1991
German firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) makes an official declaration detailing some of its activities related to the Cóndor project, stating that it terminated its involvement with the Cóndor II in 1986.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 154.
16 January-28 February 1991
The United States implements Operation Desert Storm.
—US Department of Defense, "The Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Timeline," undated, <http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2000/n08082000_20008088.html>.
22 January 1991
Minister of Economy Cavallo states that Cóndor II development was approved by the Radical Civic Union (UCR) government and received financing from Iraq.
—"Chronology 1991," Arms Control Reporter, March 1991.
25 January 1991
La Nación reports on the differing opinions of Argentine Air Force officials who claim that no work has been done on the Cóndor in almost a year and Menem's declarations that decommissioning of the program is almost complete.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 116.
25 January 1991
Minister of Economy Cavallo sends a letter to Juanarena asserting that the Cóndor was not as an autonomous Argentine development, but rather a deal by which Argentina received payment in the form of foreign technology in exchange for allowing foreigners to use her territory to conduct business with Iraq.
—César Docampo, Desarrollo de vectores espaciales y tecnología misilística en Argentina: el Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: EURAL, 1993), p. 51; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 117; "Crece la polémica en torno del misil Cóndor II," La Nación (Buenos Aires), 26 January 1991, p. 4; "Texto de la carta que distribuyó la Cancillería," La Nación (Buenos Aires), 26 January 1991, p. 4.
February 1991
Foreign Minister Di Tella travels to Washington, DC, where he meets with William Price, an advisor to Brent Scowcroft. Di Tella advises the US officials that the Air Force did not inform him regarding changes in the Cóndor project. He also meets with James Baker, Secretary of State, and agrees to find a means by which Argentina and the United States can apply the Cóndor technology in a cooperative endeavor.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 75; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 143, and La Nacíon, 12 February 1991.
February 1991
Retired Brigadier General and former Argentine Air Force Chief Ernesto Crespo reportedly states that the "Cóndor II project was never sold to Iraq." He cites as evidence the fact that the Argentine-Egyptian project used solid fuel for the missile, while the Iraqi project used liquid fuel, and criticized former Foreign Minister Domingo Cavallo for "giving credence to ill-intentioned magazine reports and for not producing serious evidence."
—"Ex-Air Force Chief Denies Iraqi Missile Deal," Noticias (Buenos Aires), 8 February 1991; cited in Nuclear Developments, 25 February 1991, p. 16.
February 1991
US Ambassador Todman sends a letter to Defense Minister González asking for something more concrete than the announcement of the missile's deactivation, which Humberto Romero had already made.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 83.
11 February 1991
The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) is investigating firms suspected of having exported arms illegally to Iraq. A preliminary report serves as a response to sources of allegations of German involvement: a list compiled by US Senator Jesse Helms naming 62 German arms suppliers to Iraq, and a report by the Simon Wiesenthal Center entitled "The Poison Gas Connection." The following firms are subjects in the on-going investigations: Anlager Bau Contor/Beaujean Consulting Engineers (which produced high-capacity propulsion for rockets); Dango and Dienenthal Maschinbeau GmbH (regarding equipment to work smeltable materials); Havert Handelgesellschaft GmbH (for technical improvement of Scud missiles); H&H Metalform GmbH (rocket bodies and ultra-centrifuges required for rocket casings [sic; in fact, centrifuges are not used for casings]; Integral/Saverinformatic/ICME (missile-related computer programs); Inwako (technical improvement of Scud-B missiles). MBB-Transtechnica is also under investigation in connection with criminal proceedings against the Consen subsidiary PBG for exporting calibration instruments used in rocket research. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Gildemeister Projecta GmbH for serving as a general contractor in Iraqi missile programs, and PBG Project Betreungs GmbH-Bohlen Industrie GmbH for delivering rocket technology. The status of the several cases of alleged illegal missile-related transactions remains unclear at this time: Eltro GmbH (rocket guidance systems); Mauserwerke Oberndorf GmbH (equipment for rocket research); Nickel GmbH (rocket factory air-conditioning technology); Promex Explorations GmbH (rocket technology); Feldix GmbH (rocket technology); Waldrich Siegen Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH (rocket factory machine tools).
—"Report on Firms Involved with Iraqi Arms," Die Welt (Bonn), 11 February 1991, p. 6; cited in Nuclear Developments, 19 March 1991, pp. 33-39.
14 February 1991
Foreign Minister Di Tella announces in a Buenos Aires news conference that US Secretary of State James Baker has agreed to consider an Argentine proposal to recycle Cóndor technology in a joint US-Argentine space project.
—Anne H. Harrison, "Argentina Offers to Work with US on Space Project," UPI, 14 February 1991, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
5 March 1991
Argentine Defense Minister González denies that his country built the Cóndor II ballistic missile in partnership with Egypt and Iraq, but confirms that Argentina developed Cóndor II technology. González declares that "Argentina has officially decided to totally abandon any such research or development of technology for war purposes....Argentina's missile program is restricted to the development of technology, meteorology atmosphere studies, and medical research."
—"Gonzales Says Cóndor II Prototype 'Never Built'," EFE, (Madrid), 5 March 1991; cited in Nuclear Developments, 19 March 1991, p. 14.
Phase IV: Implementing Termination of the Cóndor
Part 1: Bureaucratic and Political Conflict, April 1991-November 1992
16 April 1991
President Menem holds a second meeting on the Cóndor in the Olive Room on Economy Minister Cavallo's request. The president, Cavallo, Foreign Minister Di Tella, Defense Minister González and presidential arbitrator Eduardo Bauzá attend, and begin a bitter interministerial confrontation that continues for 43 days (16 April-28 May 1991). The final result of this clash is a second decision to end the Cóndor project.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 76; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 125, 179.
May 1991
Argentine generals prevent a team of US observers from inspecting Falda del Carmen despite President Menem's approval of the visit.
—William E. Burrows and Robert Windrem, Critical Mass: The Dangerous Race for Superweapons in a Fragmenting World (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), p. 478.
May 1991
Economy Minister Cavallo reportedly demands to know the nature of the project to develop the Cóndor II and charges that an apparent commitment had been made to export the technology without Foreign Ministry or Economy Ministry participation. Cavallo tells former Air Force Commander Brigadier General Ernesto Crespo that this was illegal. Cavallo also states that he did not find a document signed by either former Foreign Minister Dante Caputo, the former Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, or former Economic Coordination Undersecretary, Adolfo Canitrot, authorizing transfer of Cóndor fuel technology.
—"Minister Demands 'Truth on Cóndor II Missile Project'," Télam (Buenos Aires), 17 May 1991; cited in Nuclear Developments, 24 June 1991, p. 13.
Early May 1991
Economy Minister Cavallo, Foreign Minister Di Tella, and Defense Minister González meet again in the Government Palace. Bauzá decides to mediate between Cavallo and González, and calls upon Menem to intervene in a meeting on 4 May.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 85.
4 May 1991
Cavallo calls a meeting with Defense Minister González, Foreign Minister Di Tella, Economy Minister Cavallo, and Bauzá to discuss destruction of Falda del Carmen and a "concrete plan" to deactivate the Cóndor II. The ministers agree to cancel the program in time for González's upcoming visit to the United States.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 80; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 86.
5 May 1991
Defense Minister González offers a public account of this meeting, reporting that no determination has been made and that the work plan is in dispute. He concludes by stating that Menem must resolve the question.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 87.
5 May 1991
Defense Minister González reports that Argentina is studying the possibility of joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) saying, "This is the healthiest attitude that Argentina can adopt in order to show that we are not engaged in an arms race."
—"Signing of Missile Control Agreement Considered," La Prensa (Buenos Aires), 5 May 1991, pp. 1, 4, in FBIS-LAT-91-088, 7 May 1991, p. 22.
6 May 1991
At a public dedication ceremony in Buenos Aires, President Menem remarks that the Cóndor II missile has been totally deactivated, denying the existence of any pressure by the United States or Europe. Menem also rejects reports that there is tension within the Armed Forces over the suspension of the project.
—"Menem: Cóndor-2 Project 'Totally Deactivated'," Telám, 6 May 1991, in FBIS-LAT-91-088, 7 May 1991, p. 22.
6 May 1991
The Defense Ministry issues an official statement that contrary to "published versions today regarding the status of the Cóndor II, the Ministry of Defense has yet to decide whether or not the project will be deactivated." The Ministry spokesman, who reads the statement to reporters over the phone, asserts that during the 4 May meeting, only hypothetical plans were discussed and no definite decisions were made.
—"Deactivation of Cóndor-2 Denied," Buenos Aires Herald, 6 May 1991, p. 7, in FBIS-LAT-91-088, 7 May 1991, p. 22.
7 May 1991
In a press conference on the Persian Gulf War, journalists question Defense Minister González about the Cóndor.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 81, citing Clarín (Buenos Aires), 9 May 1991, p. 9.
9 May 1991
Defense Minister González announces on Argentine television the deactivation of the Cóndor II missile project.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 191, 193.
10 May 1991
Brigadier General Crespo declares that if Argentina abandons the Cóndor project, the country will become a "banana republic." Crespo is the only military officer to publicly rebuke the president for his decision. In reaction, Menem orders Air Force Commander Juliá to sanction Crespo. Shortly thereafter, Crespo and Economy Minister Cavallo engage in a heated discussion with Cavallo denouncing the military's association with Iraq.
—Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 81, who cites La Nación and Clarín, pp. 14, 17, 18 May 1991; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 193-194.
13 May 1991
Defense Ministry spokesperson Faustino Altamirano denies a report that Argentina has or could easily assemble up to 30 Cóndor II missiles, saying "It is impossible. The missile was in the experimental stage. They had been building the prototypes, so it would be impossible to have 30 missiles ready."
—Daniel Drosdoff, "Argentina Pressured to Destroy Missile Capability," UPI, 13 May 1991, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>; Nathaniel C. Nash, "Argentina's President Battles His Own Air Force on Missile," New York Times, 13 May 1991, p. 1, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
14 May 1991
Air Force Commander Juliá sanctions Brigadier General Crespo to 30 days house arrest for his statements regarding the Cóndor.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 194; "Cavallo on Background to Cóndor-2 Project; Gonzalez on Armed Forces," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 20 May 1991, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.
17 May 1991
US Ambassador Todman meets with Defense Minister González in the Ministry of Defense, and expresses US preference for destruction of Falda del Carmen. González is opposed to this, but assures that Argentina will adhere to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II. Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992, 187.
21-23 May 1991
Raúl Matera, Secretary of Science and Technology, negotiates a memorandum of understanding with NASA representatives, by which the US space agency will participate in an Argentine satellite project, the SAC-B, in Buenos Aires in 1994.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 207.
28 May 1991
Menem signs National Decree 995/91 to deactivate National Space Research Commission (CNIE) and replace it with the National Commission on Space Activities (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales; CONAE). The decree places the new agency under the "direct and exclusive" jurisdiction of the President of the Nation, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs presiding over an 11-member CONAE directorate, seconded by the Chancellery's Secretary of Foreign Relations and Latin American Affairs. According to the terms of the decree, Argentina "preserves its right to technological and scientific development for peaceful ends...(but) rejects any offensive military utilization of space activities." Article 4 of 955/91 mandates development of a national export control regime for sensitive technology, in conformity with nonproliferation criteria. Article 7 orders the Ministry of Defense to produce within 30 days a complete inventory of all resources located at CNIE headquarters in Buenos Aires, the industrial plant at Falda del Carmen, and the Space Investigations laboratory in San Miguel. All these resources are to be transferred to CONAE, which will also receive and maintain such rights and obligations contracted by CNIE with the firms D.E.A., I.A.S.A., IFAT Corporation, Consultec, Desintec, and Consen that are compatible with the purposes of CONAE. Article 8 specifies that "all elements, parts, and components of the Cóndor II missile, in all of its versions and stages of development, which exist to date, will be deactivated, dismantled, reconverted and/or unused according to their possibilities for use in pacific applications and ends, in such a manner as to effectuate in incontrovertible and definitive form the complete and irreversible cancellation of the respective project, transferring the scientific personnel, installations, and materials involved to the new National Space Activities Commission (CONAE)."
—Carlos Menem, Erman González, Guido Di Tella, and Domingo Cavallo, "Decreto Nacional 995/91: Creación de la Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales," Boletin Oficial, 3 June 1991, <http://www.medioambiente.gov.ar/mlegal/participa/dec995_91.htm>.
28 May 1991
Defense Minister Antonio Erman González announces to the nation the Executive Decision to dismantle, recycle and/or not utilize all of the elements, parts, and components of the Cóndor II, for application to only peaceful ends. He announces that all of National Space Research Commission (CNIE) will become National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE), headed by the president. He announces Argentina's decision to adhere to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). He concludes by declaring that far from protecting Argentina's national security, the Cóndor made Argentina more vulnerable, increased instability in other parts of the world, and compromised the nation's prestige.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), pp. 198-199; Anabella Busso, Relaciones Argentina-Estados Unidos en los noventa: el caso Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Edición CERIR, 1999), p. 82; Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 88.
31 May 1991
The Chilean Army unveils its 40km-range Rayo ("lightning") multiple launch rocket system two days after Argentina announces its decision to dismantle the Cóndor II project. Chile is developing the system with assistance from British Royal Ordnance.
—"On Chile's 'Lightning' Rocket," Noticias Argentinas (Buenos Aires), 31 May 1991; cited in Nuclear Developments, 24 June 1991, p. 14; Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 208.
4 June 1991
Clarín reports that astronomer Jorge Sahade will be appointed president of National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) and will be charged with dismantling the Cóndor project, and that Argentina has 30 days to complete an inventory of the National Space Research Commission (CNIE).
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 209.
4 June 1991
Lawrence Eagleburger meets Foreign Minister Di Tella to congratulate President Menem for his decision on the Cóndor.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 212.
7 July 1991
Air Force Commander Juliá orders that Falda de Carmen be abandoned.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 213.
August 1991
National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) and NASA sign a general agreement on cooperation for peaceful use of space, and a specific accord to develop the first Argentine satellite.
—Cancillería Argentina, "Report on Non-Proliferation Policy by the Argentine Republic," unofficial (English) translation, Buenos Aires, 1993, p. 5.
23 August 1991
National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) President Sahade announces that Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico will begin technical studies to develop a satellite launch vehicle. In regards to the Cóndor II, he says, "For the time being, the only thing I can say is that no one has talked about destroying anything. On the contrary, rather we are thinking about how we can construct space technology."
—"Space Commission to Build Rocket for Satellites," Noticias Argentinas (Buenos Aires), 23 August 1991, cited in Proliferation Issues, 12 September 1991, p. 3.
23 August 1991
National Space Research Commission (CNIE) offices are transferred to National Space Activities Commission (CONAE).
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 27.
26 August 1991
Pentagon officials assert that Argentina is still developing the Cóndor II.
—"Missile Proliferation Chronology," Arms Control Reporter, September 1991, p. 706.
28 August 1991
By executive decree 995/91, President Menem dissolves the National Space Research Commission (CNIE) and establishes that all Cóndor II missile elements, parts, and components be disarmed, dismantled, recycled, or rendered unusable, and that the project be cancelled. Scientific staff, facilities, and materials are transferred to the National Space Activities Commission (CONAE), which reports directly to the President of the Republic.
—Conrado F. Varotto, "Argentina y Brasil en la Actividad Espacial," paper prepared for "Seminário Brasil - Argentina," (Rio de Janeiro: Instituto de Pesquisa de Relações Internacionais, Ministério das Relações Exteriores), 20-21 November 1997.
28 August 1991
Argentina announces adherence to Missile Technololgy Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines and principles, and formally requests to become a member.
—Cancillería Argentina, "Report on Non-Proliferation Policy by the Argentine Republic," unofficial (English) translation, Buenos Aires, 1993, p. 5.
Late 1991
In his first visit to the United States as Chancellor, Domingo Cavallo meets with US Secretary of State James Baker, who presses his Argentine counterpart to terminate the Cóndor II. Baker reads a memo prepared by US intelligence agencies, which constitutes Di Tella's first briefing about the missile program. Ambassador to the United States Guido Di Tella and Under-Secretary for Latin American Relations José Luis Fernández Valoni, also attend this meeting.
—Domingo Cavallo, El peso de la verdad: un impulso a la transparencia en la Argentina de los 90 (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1997), p. 18.
4 November 1991
The Chancellery sends a letter to a meeting of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) representatives explaining decisions made in aerospace technology matters, stating that the Argentine National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) provides an export control regime on equipment and space technology in accordance with nonproliferation parameters.
—Daniel Santoro, Operación Cóndor II: la historia secreta del misil que desmanteló Menem (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Letra Buena, 1992), p. 99.
14 November 1991
Menem meets with Bush in Washington, DC. The US president commends his counterpart's decision "to halt missile proliferation [and thus] create a safer hemisphere, a safer world."
—US Department of State, "Argentine President Carlos Menem Visits Washington, DC," Department of State Dispatch, 18 November 1991, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/universe/>.
End of December 1991
The National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) completes its investigation of the Cóndor project. Ambassador to the United States Guido Di Tella reports on its findings to President Menem, noting that the Air Force is unwilling to comply with dismantlement.
—Martin Granovsky, Misión cumplida: La presión norteamericana sobre la Argentina, de Braden a Todman (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 332.
31 December 1991
Investigative journalists Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga report that neither the Argentine public nor government officials knows for certain what has happened to the Cóndor II missiles that were produced. They assert that National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) authorities have not traveled to examine the installation where the Cóndor was fabricated.
—Eduardo Barcelona and Julio Villalonga, Relaciones carnales: la verdadera historia de la construcción y destrucción del misil Cóndor II (Buenos Aires: Planeta, 1992), p. 219.
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