Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS1861
2005-08-31 17:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

BLUE LANTERN UPDATE

Tags:  ETTC KOMC MASS AG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001861 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MASS AG
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN UPDATE

REF: A. ALGIERS 1677


B. STATE 143058

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001861

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MASS AG
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN UPDATE

REF: A. ALGIERS 1677


B. STATE 143058

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


1. (C) In an August 30 meeting dealing with a number of
issues, Ambassador, accompanied by PolEc Chief, raised the
suspension of equipment licenses to Algeria under the Blue
Lantern program with MFA Director General for the Americas
Chikhi. Ambassador said we were perplexed by Algeria's
recent unwillingness to perform Blue Lantern verifications,
since in the past the GOA routinely cooperated on such
matters. Then the cooperation stopped. Because the GOA has
not responded to our requests for pending verifications of
two sensitive military exports, the Department has been
obliged to suspend equipment licenses to Algeria. As a
result, $30 million in exports were currently blocked. This
is not good, either for Algeria, or the United States.


2. (C) Ambassador explained that the U.S. had complete
confidence in Algeria, which was why we trusted the GOA to
verify the receipt and proper use of sensitive shipments. We
did not, however, have the same confidence in the exporter in
the two licensing cases in question. In fact, we had strong
reason to believe, Ambassador said, that the South African
company involved has not always respected its obligations
under the licensing agreements. That was why we needed GOA
confirmation that the equipment arrived and was properly
being used.


3. (C) Chikhi, knowing the answer to his question before he
posed it, asked if our DATT had contacted the DREC (Director
of External Relations) at the Ministry of Defense.
Ambassador noted that the DATT had held repeated meetings
with the DREC on this issue, adding that he had also
requested an appointment with MOD Minister-Delegate Guenaizia
to press for a resolution. Ambassador wondered aloud whether
the problem was due to changes in personnel at the Ministry
of Defense and lack of familiarity with the nature and
history of the Blue Lantern program. Whatever the case, the
lack of cooperation with the Blue Lantern program was
damaging for Algeria and needed to be resolved quickly.


4. (C) Comment: Embassy DATT confirms that the Blue Lantern
problems began with the arrival of the new DREC Director
General (General Sefendji). In a recent conversation,
following several Embassy interventions at senior levels,
Sefendji recently hinted to DATT that a "solution" to the
problem might be found soon.
ERDMAN