36.
The notes in this edition are illustrated by four photographs of the former
President Carlos Menem with his son Carlos Nair Meza. In one of them, alongside the
legend “Chapadmalal ‘93, una de las tantas visitas de Carlos Nair al complejo oficial
para estar con Menem” [Chapadmalal '93, one of many visits of Carlos Nair to the
official complex to be with Menem], the President and the child are playing billards. In
another image, Mr. Menem, Ms. Meza and their son appear next to the legend that
states “Las Lomitas ‘93, un acto menemista, Martha Meza, Carlos Nair y el Presidente,
primera fila” [Las Lomitas '93, a Menemist act, Martha Meza, Carlos Nair and the
President, front row]. In the next photo President Menem, Carlos Nair, and his mother
appear in a meeting at the presidential residence with the legend "Olivos ‘92, Menem
preside, Martha a su derecha y Carlos Nair a su izquierda, Mera Figueroa mira” [Olivos
'92, President Menem, Martha on his right, and Carlos Nair on his left, Mera Figueroa
mira." In the fourth illustration Mr. Menem is portrayed embracing his son with Mrs.
Meza at his side with the legend “Chapadmalal ‘91, un familiar día de playa. Frente a
los vientos del mar y lejos de otras tormentas” [Chapadmalal '91, a family beach day.
Facing the winds of the sea and away from other storms]. In all the photos of both
editions, the child's image is distorted so that he cannot be recognized.
37.
Mr. Menem, who at the time of the foregoing publications was carrying out his
second presidential term, began, under his own right, a legal action against the
Editorial Profile, against the editing of the magazine, and against Mr. Jorge
Fontevecchia and Mr. Hector D'Amico. The purpose of this action was to obtain
reparation for the alleged moral damage caused by the alleged violation of privacy
resulting from the publication. The amount of compensation requested in the complaint
was $ 1,500,000.00 (one million five hundred thousand Argentine pesos), plus the
interests and costs and expenses of the trial. In addition, a request was made for
publication of the Judgment, in its entirety, by the defendants. 22
Nation. [I]n mid of last April, Martha Meza and Carlos Nair appeared in the record of the residence of Olives.
[T]he next meeting between Meza, Carlos Nair, and the President-end of May, took shape in the safest
spaces of the Casa Rosada. [...] On the 14 of February of 1994 [...] Martha Meza reported threats against
her son and blamed the national government for its security, seeking political asylum in Paraguay. The scale
of the characters at play led the Guarani President Juan Carlos Wasmosy [...] to communicate by telephone
with his Argentine counterpart, who sought the protection of the woman and her child. ‘Meza and her
husband claimed $U.S.50,000,000 to settle in the beaches of Miami. She threatened to camp with her son in
the Plaza de Mayo and to initiate a paternity action to the OAS.’ [Aides of Mr. Menem] traveled with urgency
to Asuncion to calm the waters. The [dispute settlement with Mr. Menem] would be a lifetime monthly
pension of $U.S. 20,000 and a trust on behalf of Carlos Nair, of a figure close to one million of dollars; as
well as the political cover for [the husband of Martha Meza, Mr.] Dorrego-local PAMI former comptroller
during the times of Matilde Menéndez [...] - whom auditing arm carried of the national delegation of social
work of retirees was carrying out an investigation for embezzlement of millions. [A] sector of the
Government [...] assessed the ability of Menem to suggest similar behavior [recognize the child, as had been
done by former French President Mitterrand], going as far as to ask the SIDE to take a survey to confirm the
benefits of this option [...]. [T]he political career of Martha Meza was from the beginning marked by the aura
of being, as she never tired of repeating, 'the mother of the son of the President.’ [I]n November of 1994,
Martha Meza reported a case of robbery from the Formosa home safe. According to the record of the cause
pending before the court of Rolando Cejas, '20 rings, four bracelets, four pairs of earrings and several
chains, all of gold were stolen.' She further stated: '[t]hey took a Rolex of gold inlaid with diamonds, a gift of
the President of the Nation', with a value of around $U.S. 40,000.00 According to the representative, the
total of the stolen amount was of $US 230,000. [...] Legal versions indicated that [...] the concerns of the
representatives also centered on documentation found stored in the safe and that could be linked to the fees
received for child support.
22
Cf. Petition for damage and detriment filed by the representative of Mr. Menem (case file of annexes
to the report No. 82/10, annex 4, folios 305 and seq.). The amount indicated in pesos had the same
equivalent to US dollars.
14