NO ALGERIAN REQUEST TO FRANCE FOR NUCLEAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003414 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2015 TAGS: KNNP TRGY AORC ENRG AG FR IAEA SUBJECT: NO ALGERIAN REQUEST TO FRANCE FOR NUCLEAR PROGRAM ASSISTANCE REF: STATE 090118 Classified By: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, REASON 1.4 B/D (C) Per reftel, we informed MFA desk officer for IAEA issues Hugues de Longevialle of the Algerian request to us for assistance in dealing with the IAEA and its protocols. We also shared our preliminary response, noting that we were requesting additional information from the Algerians on their program. Longevialle responded that the MFA had not received a similar request. He contacted us later in the day on May 17 and confirmed, after consulting with appropriate French agencies, that the Algerians had not approached the French. He noted, however, that the French mission in Vienna had heard of Algeria's interest and that the French mission would follow-up, as appropriate. Separately, MFA DAS-level director for North Africa Anne Mohsen also informed us that the Algerians had not approached the French. WOLFF