MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem says he won't return to Argentina to face charges.

Claiming political persecution, former Argentine President Carlos Menem said he has no intention of responding to multiple summonses to appear in court in his country, but he denied he would ask for asylum in Chile.

"I've already suffered six months of unjust imprisonment, and that's enough," said Menem, 73, during an interview broadcast Tuesday night over Chile's Radio Agricultura network.

Menem, living in Santiago with Chilean wife Cecilia Bolocco and their five-month-old son, has been summoned to appear before Argentine judges in two separate cases. One involves a Swiss bank account he allegedly failed to disclose on his tax return, while the other concerns purported corruption on a public works project during his 1989-1999 administration.

The former president has repeatedly put off his appearance, citing various reasons. "I won't go until they guarantee me a fair trial," Menem told radio listeners. "Most likely, once I'm in Argentina, they'll forbid my traveling to Chile, but I've got family here." Despite his earlier claims that he is unable to travel due to a broken arm, Menem was unequivocal in stating that he had no plans to go because he saw the deck stacked against him.

"They say I'm a refugee, that I'm looking to obtain Chilean citizenship," Menem said, speaking from a golf course. "That's a lie. The only thing I've done is seek an adjustment of my visa. Mine is valid for three months and I want it for a year, I want them to assure me justice." Chile's government has already said that it would turn down any request from Menem for political asylum.

Menem calls the charges against him "part of a smear campaign" that began after he left office in 1999.

"They are insults and defamation meant to tarnish the greatest government Argentina has ever had," he said.