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
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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
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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