MG SENHADJI SEES JOINT MILITARY DIALOGUE AS STEP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000839

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS AG SOFA
SUBJECT: MG SENHADJI SEES JOINT MILITARY DIALOGUE AS STEP
TOWARD EXPANDED COOPERATION

Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman; reasons 1.4 (B)(D)

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


1. (C) MOD Secretary General Senhadji discussed with
Ambassador April 25 the upcoming Joint Military Dialogue
talks in Washington (May 10-11),expressing appreciation for
the excellent program that has been arranged and exchanging
views on what to expect from these talks. He agreed with
Ambassador that the most important concrete outcome would be
the launching of a mechanism that would promote a regular
high-level military dialogue and create a framework and
foundation for expanding military cooperation. Ambassador
advised that the U.S. side, among other things, would almost
certainly want to discuss issues such as SOFA arrangements
and end-use monitoring, since finding a way forward in these
areas would be essential for the growth of our military
relationship. Senhadji said Algeria had no problems with
end-use assurances, only intrusive monitoring, especially at
unit levels; emphasized Algeria's commitment to military
modernization and professionalization; said Algeria sought
regional stability and saw the stability of Morocco and the
throne as an important Algerian interest; and expressed
interest in developing a military-to-military intelligence
exchange.
(End Summary)

JMD WILL ESTABLISH FRAMEWORK AND
FOUNDATION FOR EXPANDING COOPERATION
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2. (C) Ambassador and DATT met with MOD Secretary General MG
Senhadji April 25, at latter's request, to discuss his trip
to Washington for the May 10-11 Joint Military Dialogue
(JMD)and related meetings. Senhadji, as usual when acting in
his MOD capacity, was dressed in civilian attire, and was
accompanied by his Exec officer, Col. Benmousset. Senhadji
asked what we envisioned as the outcome of the JMD. Would
there be a declaration of general principles, specific
agreements on expanded cooperation, concrete results or
simply dialogue? Ambassador said the concrete and important
outcome we sought would be the establishment of a permanent
mechanism for a regular, high-level dialogue. Such a
dialogue would allow our senior officials to get to know one
another better, create a framework and foundation for
mutually beneficial expanded military cooperation, and
identify how we might move forward in this area. In this
regard, the JMD would provide a useful opportunity to
exchange views on such issues as arms sales, exercises,
training, and information exchanges.

SENHADJI APPRECIATIVE OF EXCELLENT
PROGRAM AND HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS
--------------


3. (C) Ambassador walked Senhadji through the highlights of
the program, noting that he was being received at very high
levels and that this was an excellent opportunity to project
a positive image for Algeria, its commitment to the war
against terrorism, and the Algerian military's commitment to
professionalization and respect for the rights of Algerian
citizens. Senhadji expressed appreciation for the excellent
program that had been arranged and said he looked forward to
his visit and discussions. He agreed the JMD would be an
important step in building a foundation for expanding
cooperation. In response to Ambassador's counsel that he be
as frank in acknowledging past human rights problems as in
presenting the positive evolution of the Algerian military in
Algeria's emerging democracy, Senhadji said he expected the
MJD to be a frank and productive exchange of ideas leading to
greater engagement between our two countries.

WORKING OUT PROBLEMS OF SOFA AND END-USE
MONITORING ESSENTIAL TO EXPANDED COOPERATION
--------------


4. (C) Ambassador advised Senhadji that the U.S. side would
almost certainly want to discuss the issue of SOFA
arrangements. We knew Algeria had concerns in this area, but
finding a way around the problems in this area would be
important, if we were to develop the kind of relations and
cooperation we had with other friendly countries. SOFAs were
routine and normal between the U.S. and its partners, noting
that in this regard he had just seen a press report
indicating that even Russia had just worked out SOFA
arrangements with NATO. Similarly, resolving end-use
monitoring issues would also be important if we were to be
able to move forward. Participation in the end-use
monitoring program was for us a matter law and required for
all countries, including our closest friends and allies, who
sought to purchase sensitive U.S. military systems and
equipment. While we had some flexibility in how end-use
monitoring could be carried out in practice, we did not/not
have flexibility on the principle of end-use monitoring.
This was simply the way we did business. The many other
countries with which we had military sales relationships have
not had problems with end-use monitoring.


5. (C) Senhadji responded that Algeria had no basic problem
with end-use assurances since it was standard international
practice that countries were obliged to certify that weapons
systems would not be transferred to third parties. What
Algeria had problems with were the intrusive monitoring
requirements, including inspections to ensure that equipment
was in such and such a military unit. Ambassador clarified
(as we have in discussions with other Algerian senior
military officials) that the monitoring was intended only to
verify that a given piece of equipment was in country, not
whether it was in a given military unit. Ambassador said the
JMD offered an excellent opportunity to clarify the end-use
monitoring issue.

ALGERIAN MILITARY MODERNIZATION AND
PROFESSIONALIZATION WILL REINFORCE REGIONAL STABILITY
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Senhadji said arms procurement was another key issue
for Algeria, which wanted to modernize and professionalize
its military and to reinforce regional stability.
Inter-operability of equipment, he said, was essential if
Algeria was to participate in multilateral peacekeeping
operations or other operations with regional partners. The
idea that a modernized Algerian military might pose a threat
to regional security was totally incorrect. Algeria was
fully committed to regional stability and regarded the
stability of Morocco and of the Moroccan throne as a central
Algerian interest. In this regard, he recalled that during
two coup attempts against Hassan II, Algeria had offered
refuge to the King.

ALGERIA INTERESTED IN MIL-MIL INTEL EXCHANGE
--------------


7. (C) Senhadji also expressed interest in a
military-military intelligence exchange agreement. Asked
what he had in mind, he said such an agreement could focus on
three areas: (1) education and training, (2) technology and
equipment, and (3) exchange of military information. The
general specifically asked for an agreement with the DIA.
Ambassador said this touched on the ongoing broader issue of
reform of the Algerian intelligence services, since it was
his understanding that, at the request of the Algerian side,
all intelligence exchange took place in service-to-service
channels.


8. (C) Ambassador also noted that the U.S. Navy was
interested in developing a naval intelligence exchange and
that we had orally proposed this to Algeria. Perhaps this
was something that could be discussed at the JMD. (COMMENT:
In response to our oral proposal, the Algerians requested
written clarification of what we were proposing. Sixth Fleet
staff is currently working on a paper for the Algerians.)
Senhadji was unaware of U.S. interest in a naval exchange
and, in response to Ambassador's comments, insisted that the
Algerian DRS (Department of Intelligence and Security) did
not/not have a monopoly on intelligence and that the staff of
the armed forces had its own bureau of military intelligence.
There was more to military intelligence than just
counter-terrorism, he said, and a military-to-military
intelligence exchange could open up opportunities to share a
variety of information of mutual interest. A
military-to-military exchange agreement would be one more
facet of military modernization in Algeria.


ERDMAN