ALGERIA NOT FAVORABLE TO PSI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000686 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA NOT FAVORABLE TO PSI REF: STATE 50811 Classified By: Political/Economic Chief Steven C. Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche April 12 to MFA Deputy Director of Disarmament and International Security Briza, seeking support for the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and for Algerian attendance at the upcoming PSI high-level meeting scheduled to take place in Poland in June. Briza said the GOA was familiar with the PSI and supported the overall thrust of its mission, noting the GOA already did much in the area of non-proliferation. ¶2. (C) Concerning diplomatic support for the PSI itself, the GOA did not support establishing a structure parallel to what was already in place at the UN, said Briza. She stressed that the GOA was a signatory to UNSCR 1540 and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and believed that all necessary action should be taken through those existing channels, rather than through the creation of a new diplomatic mechanism. PolOff stressed that the PSI had wide international support, including that of UN Secretary General Annan. Briza took the point but stood by her earlier comments, saying she would consult with her superiors before accepting our invitation to the PSI high-level meeting in June. ERDMAN