BUENOS AIRES - Argentine Cabinet Chief Marcos Peña on Monday called terrorism ‘an act of hatred against humanity,’ during a gathering of dozens of parliamentarians from across the region, hosted by the Latin American affiliate of the World Jewish Congress. 
The ninth edition of the Latin American Parliamentarians' Meeting, a gathering of lawmakers of all backgrounds, opened on Monday and followed the first meeting of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians in Latin America, and was set to focus on strategies for combating and preventing terrorism. Both meetings were set to coincide with the 23rd anniversary of the 1994 deadly bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires.
"We believe that it is very important to reinforce this vision of a region that rejects terrorism,” Peña said during the gathering. “Terrorism is an act of hatred against humanity.”
The parliamentarians are participating in a series of activities organized by the Latin American Jewish Congress and attended the official commemoration marking 23 years since the AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people and wounded hundreds more.
During the meeting of parliamentarians, Peña stressed the importance of not returning to the Memorandum of Understanding between Argentina and Iran, which would have established a joint investigation into the attack widely believed to have been carried out by Tehran and its proxy, Hezbollah. The Memorandum of Understanding was canceled in 2015.
Peña also referenced during his address the death of Jewish prosecutor Alberto Nisman, the chief investigator of the attack who was had accused then-President Cristina Kirchner of covering for Iran.
There must be justice for Nisman, Peña said, adding that “there must be no impunity. We need to know what happened and who is responsible for his death.” 
Latin American Jewish Congress President Adrian Werthein said during the meeting: “We will not stop in our efforts to achieve justice.”
“Not only are we here to demand justice but also to work together with legislators in the region to prevent a terrorist attack from happening again in our countries,” said LAJC Executive Director Claudio Epelman. “The bombings in Buenos Aires are a sign that terrorism can strike anywhere.”
The event was attended by Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich; Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Sergio Bergman; The Chancellor, Jorge Faurie; Secretary of Human Rights, Claudio Avruj; Secretary of Homeland Security, Gerardo Milman; The Secretary General of Government of the province of Buenos Aires, Fabian Perechodnik; Undersecretary of National Youth, Pedro Robledo; and World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer.
U.S. Congressman Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and chairman of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP), said ahead of the commemorations:
“On this somber anniversary, we remember the attack on AMIA, the Jewish community center of Argentina. With the support of the Iranian regime, Iranian proxy terrorists murdered 85 innocent people in this brutal attack. 
“To this day, the families and loved ones of those victims await justice. Despite international outcry and a stack of Interpol red notices, Iran refuses to investigate this crime and hold the perpetrators accountable. I commend the World Jewish Congress and Latin American Jewish Congress for working together with parliamentarians in the region in the effort to combat and prevent terrorism,” Engel said.
Argentine government ministers and officials were among the some 5,000 people in attendance at the official AMIA ceremony, marking the 23rd anniversary of the attack.
A special meeting of the LAJC board of directors was held on the sidelines of the events, in attendance by Singer and leaders of Jewish communities throughout the region. This was the first LAJC meeting to be held under the director of President Adrian Werthein.
