INFORMATION PASSED TO GOA ON TRANSFER AND RELEASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002162 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER KAWC AG SUBJECT: INFORMATION PASSED TO GOA ON TRANSFER AND RELEASE OF ALGERIAN NATIONALS FROM GUANTANAMO REF: STATE 195500 Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by PolEc Chief, delivered reftel talking points October 24 to MFA Director General for the Americas Fatiha Selmane. Ambassador also passed the proposed diplomatic notes that would be required in advance of the transfer of Algerian detainees from U.S. to Algerian control. Separately, PolEc Chief met October 24 with MFA Director General for Consular Affairs Hassene Rabehi and October 25 with Consular to the President Mohamed Kamel Rezag Bara. During those meetings, PolEc Chief passed the information contained reftel on litigation status, hunger strikes, a proposed visit to Guantanamo, location of detainees, and the release of the non-enemy combatant. ¶2. (C) Both Rezag Bara and Rabehi thanked PolEc Chief for the information and said interagency GOA discussions were ongoing on repatriating Algerian detainees from Guantanamo. Rezag Bara said it was important to take matters one step at a time and, speaking personally, thought a GOA visit to Guantanamo December 1-2 was the next logical step. He did not, however, exclude the possibility that the GOA would arrive at a position on repatriations before that time. He acknowledged that the U.S. required no assurances from the GOA, via diplomatic note or otherwise, prior to the release of Fethi Boucetta, but he was unsure when the GOA would agree to repatriate him. ¶3. (C) In his meeting with Selmane, Ambassador drew her attention to PolEc Chief's earlier meeting with Rabehi and explained the U.S. required assurances from the GOA via an exchange of diplomatic notes before the two Algerian nationals approved for transfer from Guantanamo could be repatriated. Ambassador emphasized that Algerian law would govern, and U.S. control would cease, after the transfer. Ambassador stressed that assurances of humane treatment and possible access in the future for intelligence purposes were also key requirements. Ambassador passed Selmane the proposed diplomatic notes, in English and French, that the Governments of the U.S. and Algeria would exchange in advance of the transfers. Selmane said in response that this matter was being worked in an interagency process. She pledged to coordinate with Rabehi and inform the Embassy of the GOA reaction to the proposed exchange of notes once the texts of the notes had been studied. Ambassador thanked Selmane for her help. ERDMAN