BIOGRAPHY OF MOHAMED BEDJAOUI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000868

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR AG
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHY OF MOHAMED BEDJAOUI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS


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


1. (U) Following is a biographical summary of the Algeria's
new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Bedjaoui, the former
President of the Constitutional Council from May 2002 until
the announcement of his new appointment on May 1:

Mohamed Bedjaoui was born in Sidi-Bel Abbes (Algeria) on
September 21, 1929. He graduated from Grenoble University in
France with a B.A. in law and following that worked as a
lawyer at the Court of Grenoble from 1951 to 1953. Bedjaoui
subsequently received two doctoral degrees from the
University of Grenoble in 1956, in law and political science.
In 1956 he also began working as a researcher at the French
National Scientific Research Center (CNRS) in France.

At the start of the Algerian revolution in 1956, the FLN
appointed Bedjaoui to be their legal advisor, a position he
commenced in France and took with him as he returned to
Algeria in 1956. He maintained that position within the
Algerian Provisional Government from 1956 until independence
was achieved in 1962 at the Evian negotiations, in which he
took part. Beginning in 1962, Bedjaoui began a long career
as a distinguished Algerian official: Secretary General to
the Government, an administrative position tracking legal
developments (1962-1964); Minister of Justice (1964-1970);
his diplomatic debut as Ambassador to France (1970-1979);
permanent delegate to UNESCO (1971-1979); Ambassador to the
U.N. and simultaneously President of the Group of 77 in New
York (1979-1982).

From 1979 to 1982, Bedjaoui also occupied the positions of
Vice President of the U.N. Council for Namibia and President
of the contact group for Cyprus. Bedjaoui became
Co-President of the inquiry commission for the release of
American diplomats in Iran in 1980. From 1982-1992, he was a
judge at the International Court of the Hague and was
appointed President of the Court 1993-1997. Bedjaoui was the
first judge from the Arab world to have such a high position
at the Court.

In 1999, President Lamine Zeroual appointed Bedjaoui to be
the President of the National Commission for Presidential
Elections. In 2002, he was appointed President of the
Constitutional Council, in which capacity he oversaw the
handling of the April 2004 presidential election in Algeria.

Bedjaoui was awarded the Ordre de la Resistance d'Algerie,
and has also been awarded the Ordre du Merite Alaouite de
Royaume du Maroc, the Ordre de la Republique d'Egypte, and
the Ordre National du Mali.

Bedjaoui is the author of several publications and 300
articles on law, including "La Revolution Algerienne et le
Droit" (article, 1963); "Non-Alignement et Droit
International (book, 1970); and "Traites et Conventions de
l'Algerie" (compilation, 1963-4).


2. (C) Initial domestic reactions among Embassy sources to
Bedjaoui's appointment were overwhelmingly positive.
Contacts called him a "heavy-weight of diplomacy." Others
said that he would bring a sense of "refinement and culture"
to the MFA. A former Algerian Ambassador said, "It's about
time that the Algerian diplomatic establishment is headed by
a real diplomat and not by a renegade from the FLN or the RND
(Rassemblement National pour la Democratie)." One
parliamentarian did express reservations about appointing
someone of Bedjaoui's elevated age. Presidential Chief of
Staff Belkheir told Ambassador May 2 that Bedjaoui had been
selected because of his considerable international experience
and the excellent image he will project for Algeria.


3. (C) Comment: At age 76, Bedjaoui enjoys international
stature and is well and favorably known to the Embassy. He
is also a great admirer of the United States and has a copy
of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on his study wall.
As a trusted and long-time friend of President Bouteflika
from the pre-independence period and as an elder statesman
with no political ambition, Bedjaoui will enjoy a close and
non-threatening relationship with Bouteflika, who can be
expected to use him to help project an image of competence,
respectability, and moderation on the world scene. Given his
international experience, he will also likely project a more
urbane -- or at least secular world view onto Algerian
foreign affairs in contrast to his conservative Islamic
nationalist predecessor, outgoing FM Belkhedem.
ERDMAN