Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALGIERS2165
2005-10-26 10:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON NEW MFA DIRECTOR

Tags:  PREL MASS TSPL EAIR SCUL KMPI AG INRB 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 002165 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015
TAGS: PREL MASS TSPL EAIR SCUL KMPI AG INRB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON NEW MFA DIRECTOR
GENERAL FOR THE AMERICAS


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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 002165

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015
TAGS: PREL MASS TSPL EAIR SCUL KMPI AG INRB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON NEW MFA DIRECTOR
GENERAL FOR THE AMERICAS


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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------


1. (C) During an October 24 courtesy call, Ambassador briefed
new MFA Americas Director General Fatiha Selmane on bilateral
issues. Selmane, up until a year ago Algeria's ambassador to
South Africa, agreed bilateral relations were good and
growing; noted our excellent post-9/11 counter-terrorism
cooperation; and, in response to Ambassador's expressions of
concern on the Blue Lantern issue, pledged to re-engage with
the Ministry of National Defense, which she confirmed had
jurisdiction over this issue. Selmane was also pleased that
the Embassy would be resuming full non-immigrant visa
services in Algiers beginning November 5; that the Open Skies
negotiations were nearing completion; that the Science and
Technology Cooperation Framework Agreement would be signed
around mid-December; and that the Ambassador and Education
Minister on October 30 would be signing a cooperative
agreement for upgrading English teaching and curricula in
Algeria. These were all signs, she agreed, that our
bilateral cooperation was moving in a very positive
direction. Selmane left a very positive impression and
agreed on the importance of maintaining good channels of
communication in order to overcome obstacles, avoid
misunderstandings, and advance our common agenda. (End
summary and comment)

WELCOME ON BOARD
--------------


2. (C) In an October 24 courtesy call with newly installed
MFA Director General for the Americas Fatiha Selmane,
Ambassador, accompanied by PolEc Chief, gave an overview of
several current bilateral issues. The Ambassador began by
congratulating Selmane on her new position. Selmane
commented that the Americas were an unknown continent for
her, since she had not served in the Western Hemisphere.
However, while on assignment in Spain with the MFA, she had
dealt with Latin American issues. Selmane said she began her

career at the MFA in Algiers working on Indian subcontinent
issues. In between her first and current jobs, she held
postings in Africa, including as Ambassador to South Africa,
and Europe. When Ambassador noted that Dr. Cheikh Bouamrane,
head of the High Islamic Council of Algeria, would be
attending Ambassador's iftar that evening, which Selmane was
attending, she responded he was her father!


3. (C) Ambassador said he sought an open, direct dialogue
with Selmane and her staff on all matters. Selmane responded
by stating her willingness to make a positive contribution to
the U.S.-Algerian relationship. Bilateral relations were
continuing to expand, said Selmane, but there were often
bureaucratic obstacles to overcome, and Ambassador should not
hesitate to contact her should the need arise. She would try
to help the Embassy. Ambassador thanked Selmane for her
pledge and noted that in 2001, with the 9/11 attacks and with
Algerian having defeated terrorism strategically and opting
to move toward democracy and open markets, we for the first
time shared a common political and economic vision for the
future. This had provided a solid basis for what has been a
continuing expansion of our bilateral cooperation. Selmane
said Algeria was painfully aware of the costs of terrorism
from its own very difficult experience in the 1990s. She
added that 9/11 was also tragic for the U.S. and that
cooperation in counter-terrorism was fruitful for both
countries.

BLUE LANTERN: MFA WILL RE-ENGAGE WITH DEFENSE
-------------- -


4. C) Ambassador briefed Selmane in detail on the Blue
Lantern issue, stressing that although the issue at hand (our
request for a letter confirming receipt of some sensitive
equipment) was relatively minor, the consequences of
non-cooperation in this area could be considerable.
Protecting sensitive U.S. technologies from getting into the
wrong hands was a legal requirement, and in the interest of
both the U.S. and our partners, and we asked for this same
kind of cooperation from even our closest allies like the UK.
Ambassador believed there must be a misunderstanding here
because Algeria up until a year ago had cooperated with this
program without any problems. In the current case involving
a purchase from a South African firm, we had come to Algeria
for verification not because we did not trust Algeria but
because for various reasons we had come to distrust the firm
in question.


5. (C) Continuing, Ambassador said we had turned to Algeria
for confirmation precisely because we DID trust it. After a
year of unsuccessfully urging a response to our request, we
had finally been obliged to return without action all license
requests concerning sales to Algeria. This was good neither
for the U.S. nor for Algeria because, among other things, it
meant Algeria would not be able to proceed with needed
upgrades of its C-130s; the Spanish firm CASA would not be
able to ship the planes Algeria had purchased; and we would
not be able to move forward on any of the more advanced kinds
of equipment in which Algeria had expressed interest.
Finally, while the Ambassador believed this was not the case,
it risked creating the impression that Algeria in fact was
hiding something. This was a very minimalist, non-obtrusive
request and we frankly were perplexed that the GOA found
difficulties with it, especially given its past cooperation.
Selmane confirmed the issue was within the purview of the
Ministry of National Defense and said she would use the
occasion of her arrival to re-engage the MND on Blue Lantern.


FULL CONSULAR SERVICES TO RESUME
--------------


6. (C) Noting Algerian press stories that morning,
Ambassador said he would formally be announcing the next day
that Embassy Algiers would resume full non-immigrant visa
services November 5. Ambassador said this was a further step
toward normalizing Embassy operations, noting that proceeding
with such normalization as the security situation permitted
had been a specific mandate from the Secretary and Deputy
Secretary of State. Ambassador said we had expected ten

SIPDIS
journalists at the press conference, but 66 had signed up to
attend! This was another reflection of growing ties and
interest linking our countries. Selmane agreed the
resumption of these services was a strong signal of how
bilateral relations were improving and a sign of the progress
made in the area of security.

OPEN SKIES NEAR COMPLETION
--------------


7. (C) On another good note, Ambassador said he had
preliminary indications from his consultations in Washington
that we appeared very close to finalizing an Open Skies
agreement, with only a couple of issues/clarifications
remaining. Ambassador looked forward to sharing the details
once he had official instructions. Ambassador proposed that
once we reach agreement in the French and English texts, the
U.S. present draft translations in Arabic for GOA review.
This would save considerable time and effort based on our
mutual experience with collaborating on translations for the
Science and Technology Agreement, which we expected would be
signed by U/S Dobriansky during a visit on or about December

12. Selmane said the GOA was looking forward to Dobriansky's
visit and having the agreement take effect. She also agreed
that the Open Skies agreement translations be done by the
Department, with subsequent review by the GOA.

AGREEMENT FOR EXPANDED ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TEACHING
-------------- ---


8. (C) Ambassador closed out the meeting by announcing that
agreement had been reached with the Ministry of Education on
a $4 million program that would expand the teaching of
English in Algeria through the introduction of new teaching
methods, technology, a revised curriculum, and partnerships.
The agreement was scheduled for signature October 30.
Selmane said it was always easier to work on resolving issues
if the partners were agreeable, as in the case of her new
American partners. Ambassador agreed and said he looked
forward to working with Selmane in her new position.

ERDMAN