ALGERIA ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR PEACE BUILDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000339 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016 TAGS: PREL UN AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR PEACE BUILDING COMMISSION Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Post received February 26 an English-language diplomatic note announcing Algeria's candidacy for the Peace Building Commission in 2006-07, the text of which follows with Embassy minor grammatical edits. Separately, MFA Director General for Multilateral Affairs Bouguerra asked Ambassador February 26 in a meeting devoted to other issues for U.S. support of Algeria's candidacy. Ambassador indicated we would inform Washington and give full consideration to Algeria's request for support. TEXT OF FEBRUARY 19, 2006 MFA DIPLOMATIC NOTE -------------- ¶2. (U) "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria presents its compliments to the Embassy of United States of America in Algiers and has the honor to inform the latter of the decision of the Government of Algeria to present its candidacy to one of the seven seats reserved for members of the General Assembly in the Standing Organizational Committee of the Peace Building Commission for the period 2006-2007. While seeking the valuable support of the Government of United States of America for its candidacy, Algeria wishes to provide it with the following: Algeria has just completed a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2004-2005, which allowed it to learn in depth about a wide range of conflict and post-conflict situations on the agenda of the Council, Many of them are likely to be addressed by the Peace Building Commission immediately after it becomes operational. This has been an opportunity to learn about various challenges confronting the peace-building processes in different regions, and Algeria wants to share its experience with the Commission membership. Thanks also to the support of the African countries, Algeria was, during the same period, a member of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in accordance with its continuing mandate, thus benefiting from an equal experience on matters related to post-conflict situations and peace building from a regional perspective. Moreover, the purpose of the Peace Building commission is very much related to the vision of the NEPAD initiative and its priorities in pursing the goal of achieving a sustainable peace by addressing the special needs of countries emerging from conflict and assisting them in laying the foundation for sustainable development. Algeria is among the promoters of NEPAD and is currently member of both its steering committee and its implementation committee and, therefore, believes it can make a positive contribution to a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach to post-conflict peace building and reconciliation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of United States of America in Algiers the assurances of its highest consideration." (END TEXT) COMMENT/RECOMMENDATION -------------- ¶3. (C) While we are not aware of what other countries are expressing interest in membership in the Standing Organizational Committee of the Peace Building Commission, Embassy Algiers strongly recommends positive consideration of Algeria's candidacy bid. We share converging interests throughout much of Africa; Algeria has been one of our top partners in the war against terrorism; it has cooperated with us in the UN rehatting of the African Union Mission in Sudan; it brokered the Ethiopia-Eritrea settlement (i.e., the Algiers Accord); and at the February 22 meeting in New York of the Witnesses to the Accord worked closely with us to produce the outcome we sought. Having defeated terrorism at home, Algeria is well-placed to help other nations pursue reconciliation and peace-building following internal conflict. ERDMAN