Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS1703
2006-09-21 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PRAISES ONE MEPI PROGRAM,

Tags:  PGOV PREL AG 
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #1703 2641333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 211333Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2003
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1440
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6294
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2752
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001703 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL AG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PRAISES ONE MEPI PROGRAM,
CAREFUL ON ANOTHER


Classified By: Ambassador Robert Ford, reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001703

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL AG
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PRAISES ONE MEPI PROGRAM,
CAREFUL ON ANOTHER


Classified By: Ambassador Robert Ford, reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) The work of the National Conference of State
Legislatures (NCSL) has provided a valuable model for Algeria
as it builds on its democratic foundation, according to
Speaker of the National People's Assembly Amar Saadani.
Saadani maintained that the apolitical approach of NCSL was
an important reason for the organization's success in
Algeria. The team's work served as a useful device for
countering strong negative perceptions of the U.S. in the
Arab world, he commented. (Note: NCSL was conducting a bill
drafting workshop for the parliament.) Saadani cautioned
Ambassador and Poloff at their September 16 meeting, however,
that it would be helpful for members of Congress to visit
Algeria to show the U.S. legislature's interest in working
with Algerian counterparts. Such a visit would provide a
good backdrop against which the NCSL could work, he
suggested. Ambassador cautioned that he could not bring
members of Congress to Algeria. By contrast, he noted, the
Algerian government could work through its embassy in
Washington to find ways to bring a congressional delegation
to Algiers, and the U.S. Embassy in Algiers would be
delighted to help on the margins.


2. (U) Saadani stressed that Algeria was exceptional within
the Middle East, referencing press freedoms and his own
election in what he called a very transparent process. (He
pointed to the glass ballot boxes used in the 2002 elections
and added quote No general picked me. I was elected. End
quote.) He warned that lumping Algeria, with its own
specific circumstances, along with other Arab countries in
MEPI programs makes it harder for the Algerians to accept
American project work.


3. (C) The Ambassador sought Saadani's assistance with
National Democratic Institute programs in Algeria. The NDI
program, he underlined, aims to increase Algerian public
support for existing political parties and Algerian
institutions. Saadani professed ignorance about the visa
problems this month and made no commitment. He left his
comment with a friendly but clear warning of quote You are
planting date trees on the shore and that is not easy.
Choose carefully where you plant. End Quote. When Saadani
later pressed for more contacts between the U.S. Republican
and Democratic parties and Algerian political parties,
Ambassador reminded him that GoA obstacles to NDI work will
make it harder to convince either American party to seek
engage with Algerians. Saadani nodded his understanding and
said he would check into the problem while carefully avoiding
any commitment.


4. (C) Comment: Saadani was relatively stiff in the meeting,
but he clearly wanted it and had his staff scurrying around
the evening of September 15 to set it up on short notice once
they got approval from the Algerian MFA. He wants MEPI
projects that work with the Parliament, but the best pitch in
his view is one that is more bilateral than multilateral;
involving other Arabs can be problematic. Moreover, in
typical Algerian fashion, Saadani does not want to be seen as
a very junior partner - hence his interest in seeing a Codel
here. Meanwhile, the well-attended NCSL workshop on bill
drafting concluded September 20, and we have heard good
things about it from Abdelkader Bensaleh, the head of the
Algerian Senate, in addition to the remarks of Saadani above.
By contrast, both Bensaleh and Saadani are more cautious
about the NDI program work. Over the weeks ahead we will
stress the benefits of the NDI program here to a wide array
of Algerian parliamentarians, political party workers and
others. In the end, we need more Algerians, in addition to
the U.S. Embassy, to be advocates for the NDI program .

FORD