French Foreign Minister says Astiz sentence is 'an honour to Argentina'

French Foreign Affairs Minister, Alain Juppé praised this morning the life sentence declared yesterday by the Argentine justice system against former navy spy, Alfredo Astiz, for the crimes against humanity, tortures and kidnappings he committed during the last military dictatorship. Juppé said the decision “honours Argentina.”

“I salute this decision, which honours Argentina in its fight against the impunity of the crimes committed during the military dictatorship and for justice,” stated the French Foreign Minister today.

The sentence made against Alfredo Astiz, aged 59, and known as “the Angel of Death,” included the kidnapping, torture and disappearance of the French nuns Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon during the last military dictatorship which took place between 1976 and 1983.

After remembering the “permanent support” given by France to the Argentine government after their decision in 2003 to lift the Amnesty Laws, the French Minister newly praised “the political will which encourages the Argentine authorities to bring the dictatorship trials to an end.”