Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS1604
2005-08-03 16:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

NEW ALGERIAN MFA SECRETARY GENERAL BIO INFORMATION

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR AG 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001604 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AG
SUBJECT: NEW ALGERIAN MFA SECRETARY GENERAL BIO INFORMATION


Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman,
reasons 1.4(b)(d).

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001604

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AG
SUBJECT: NEW ALGERIAN MFA SECRETARY GENERAL BIO INFORMATION


Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman,
reasons 1.4(b)(d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) On July 23, Ambassador Ramdane Lamamra was named as
the new MFA Secretary General, replacing Hocine Maghlaoui.
Lamamra began his career in 1976 and his notable tours
include posts as Algerian Ambassador to the UN, Ambassador to
the U.S. and most recently Ambassador to Portugal. Lamamra
appears to have close connections with the upper echelons of
the GOA, including President Bouteflika, Prime Minister
Ouyahia, and Foreign Minister Bedjaoui.

LAMAMRA BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (U) Lamamra was born on June 15, 1952 in Amizour, Bejaia,
Algeria. He graduated in 1976 from the Diplomatic Section,
"Ecole Nationale d'Administration." His varied career
included diplomatic training at the Algerian Embassy in
Moscow, Third Secretary in the MFA, Second Secretary in the
MFA Legal and Counsular Department, United Nations Political
Affairs desk officer, First Secretary and Counselor in charge
of Legal Affairs at Algeria's Permanent Mission to the United
Nations, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy
Director for the United Nations and Disarmament Affairs,
Director of the Press and Information Department and
Spokesman of the MFA.


3. (U) Lamamra has extensive United Nations experience. He
served as a member of multiple Algerian delegations to the UN
(1979-1990) and then Algeria's Permanent Representative to
the UN (1993-1996). Lamamra has also served as Algerian
representative to many international organizations. He was a
member of the Algerian delegation to the Law of the Sea
Conferences, Organization of African Unity, the Arab League,
the Islamic Conference, OPEC, and head of delegations to OAU
Ministerial Conferences.


4. (U) His most recent posts of note have been Ambassador to
the United States (1996-1999),Ambassador/Counselor at the
MFA (2000-2003),and just prior to accepting the MFA
Secretary General posting, Ambassador to Portugal. Lamamra

SIPDIS
has also been Ambassador to Ethiopia (1989-1991) and Austria
(1992-1993). He speaks fluent Arabic, French and English.

COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) Lamamra left a very favorable impression during
Ambassador's July 31 introductory call -- the Secretary
General's first outside meeting following his installation
the afternoon before. He came across as quick, smart,
pragmatic, and flexible, with little of the ideological
baggage that weighs down some of his Old Guard colleagues in
the Ministry. Lamamra also came across as both familiar with
and favorably inclined toward the U.S., having emphasized
that it was "fitting" his first official meeting was with the
U.S. ambassador and that he wanted to see visible signs of a
U.S. investment presence -- like McDonalds -- along the
streets of Algiers and other Algerian cities. Lamamra is
clearly close to FM Bedjaoui, is said by contacts to have
personal ties with PM Ouyahia, and, judging by the fact that
he accompanied President Bouteflika to his November 2001
meeting with President Bush in Washington, has direct ties to
Bouteflika as well. These personal connections to the
highest echelons of government should make Lamamra an
interesting and authoritative interlocutor, and hopefully one
who is open and confident enough to consider ideas and shape,
rather than merely implement, policy.
ERDMAN