LEBANESE FIGURE VISITS ALGIERS, THANKS GOA FOR ITS

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001373 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AG IS LE SUBJECT: LEBANESE FIGURE VISITS ALGIERS, THANKS GOA FOR ITS SUPPORT REF: A. ALGIERS 1360 ¶B. ALGIERS 1311 ¶C. ALGIERS 1305 HARIRI THANKS GOA; RECEIVES SUPPORT FOR CEASE-FIRE -------------- -------------- ¶1. (U) Saad Hariri, the leader of the largest political party represented in the Lebanese parliament and son of the slain Lebanese prime minister, visited Algiers July 23. In public remarks reported by the press, he thanked "Algeria, its president and head of government fo their support" and underscored that Algeria was "the first country to have supported Lebanon and rapidly sent aid." After his meeting with President Bouteflika, Hariri told the press he had asked Bouteflika to use his influence to establish a cease-fire in Lebanon. (Note: President Bouteflika made no public remarks following the meeting. End Note.) ¶2. (U) After his earlier meeting with Hariri, Prime Minister Belkhadem remarked to the press that the Israeli aggression against Lebanon was "strongly supported by permanent members of the Security Council." Belkhadem called on the international community to act to stop the bloodshed. He added that a solution was not within the purview of an Arab League Summit meeting but rather through bringing "the Security Council to make decisions to put a stop to the [Israeli] aggression." Belkhadem characterized the "Israeli aggression" as "unacceptable and unjustifiable." ¶3. (U) MFA separately released a statement July 23 calling on the international community to "abandon its silence of complicity in which it has taken refuge" and "condemn without complacency the Israeli aggression against Lebanon." The statement, which made reference to recent remarks given in New York by Algeria's permanent representative to the UN, Youcef Yousfi, called for "imposing an unconditional immediate cease-fire" in order to find a "fair and lasting" solution to the crisis in the Middle East. DEMONSTRATIONS EXPECTED AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT NOT IN ALGIERS, OVER THE WEEKEND -------------- ¶4. (U) While post is unaware of any demonstrations or rallies planned for the local July 27-28 weekend (see Ref A) in the capital, Embassy contacts report that the main political parties are expected to organiz rallies and demonstrations in cities around the country. (Note: Under the Emergency Law, demonstrations are not allowed in the capital but ar permitted elsewhere. End Note.) INDEPENDENT PRESS CALLS FOR BOYCOTT OF PRESS EVENT ABOARD VISITING COAST GUARD VESSEL -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post also notes that a long list of journalists signed a petition, as reported in the July 24 press, calling for a boycott of the press conference scheduled to take place July 27 near Algiers aboar the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Northland in "solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine...to denounce...the Israeli aggression against the Lebanese people." State media have told PAO that they will participate in the press conference, but it appears likely that the independent media will largely respect the boycott and stay away from the event. SIEVERS