ALGERIA TO CONTRIBUTE $5 MILLION TO KATRINA RELIEF

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001956

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA A/S WELCH; NEA/MAG; NEA/SA/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA TO CONTRIBUTE $5 MILLION TO KATRINA RELIEF
FUND



1. (SBU) MFA SYG Lamamra told Ambassador, during telephone
discussion of other issues late September 21, that Algeria
would shortly be contributing $5 million to the relief funds
for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Lamamra said it was the
President's intention to inform the U.S. of this contribution
during Foreign Minister Bedjoui's meeting today with NEA
Assistant Secretary David Welch. This contribution would not
be announced or publicized in Algeria, he said.


2. (SBU) Ambassador thanked Lamara for this generous gesture
reflecting both our common humanity in the midst of suffering
and Algerian-U.S. friendship. Asked if the GOA would prefer
Ambassador not express our thanks publicly for Algeria's
contribution, Lamamra confirmed they preferred the Ambassador
not comment publicly.

COMMENT
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3. (SBU) Lamamra did not ask that the contribution be
considered confidential, only that it not be publicized or
announced in Algeria. Therefore, while not announcing the
contribution specifically, we believe there should be no
problem in our including the Algerian donation on public
lists of contributions from around the world.

ERDMAN