NEA A/S WELCH TELLS MFA SECRETARY GENERAL WE STILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000499 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016 TAGS: MARR MASS PREL AG SUBJECT: NEA A/S WELCH TELLS MFA SECRETARY GENERAL WE STILL NEED A SOFA Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a March 14 discussion with MFA Secretary General Lamamra on other issues, NEA A/S Welch raised continuing U.S. interest in concluding a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Algeria. Such a step made sense in the context of our growing bilateral cooperation and would enable the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in this important area. Lamamra, noting previous exchanges on this issue, said that although the GOA welcomed joint training exercises with the U.S. armed forces, Algeria was not yet ready to enter into a formal SOFA. ¶2. (C) Ambassador said we understood Algerian sensitivities on this issue but would face distinct limitations on how far this kind of cooperation could develop in the absence of the kind of protections afforded by a SOFA agreement. For this reason, we had taken up the suggestion of Foreign Minister Bedjaoui to seek on a case by case basis the necessary assurances -- essentially protections for U.S. forces engaged in joint exercises that would be equivalent to those accorded to technical and administrative staff under the Vienna Convention -- via an exchange of diplomatic notes for each exercises. ¶3. (C) Ambassador said he had provided the text of a proposed exchange of notes along these lines to the FM Bedjaoui for a small joint exercise that was to be held last November. Unfortunately, the MFA never responded to our proposed note and, in order to allow the exercise to go forward, the EUCOM Commander issued a waiver. It was important, the Ambassador emphasized, that the GOA not/not be left with the impression that we did not need some form of written assurances for future joint exercises. The waiver was only possible because the number of U.S. troops participating in the joint exercise had been quite small, thus limiting the risk. As these joint exercises became larger and more complex, we needed to have a clear legal context in order to deal with contingencies that could arise. ¶4. (C) Lamamra noted our mutual interest in developing our military cooperation and said the Algeria side would take note of the U.S. interest in securing SOFA protections for personnel involved in joint exercises. ¶5. (U) A/S Welch has cleared this message. ERDMAN