Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ALGIERS1825
2007-12-26 16:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT BRISTLES AT WARDEN MESSAGE ...
how-toVZCZCXRO9585 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHAS #1825 3601658 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261658Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5048 INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2482 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 8748 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 2093 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6950 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6163 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1417 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0366 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3197 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001825
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC PREL AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT BRISTLES AT WARDEN MESSAGE ...
AGAIN
REF: SECSTATE 169912
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001825
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC PREL AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT BRISTLES AT WARDEN MESSAGE ...
AGAIN
REF: SECSTATE 169912
1. (C) Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on December 26 to meet with Fatiha Selmane, Director
General of the MFA's Americas Division. Selmane said that
she was instructed by her superiors to express Algerian
"displeasure" with the latest warden message sent out by the
Embassy on December 23. Specifically, Selmane said she
understood and respected the Embassy's need to communicate
with American citizens in Algeria, but asked why the warden
message needed to be publicized on the website, implying that
excessive publicity was alarmist and hence undermining
Algeria's effort to fight terrorism. Ambassador responded by
providing Selmane with copies of 7 FAM 51.3 and 7 FAM 58.3
which outline the procedures for releasing warden and travel
warning messages. The Ambassador explained the double
standard policy, and Selmane acknowledged that foreigners in
Algiers were justifiably concerned with the security
situation. Selmane also pledged to support the Ambassador's
request for increased perimeter security around the Embassy's
housing compound, which the Ambassador stressed as a tripwire
that could conceivably trigger the departures of Embassy
dependents. Ambassador reiterated our strong support for
Algeria's work fighting terrorism and said if the GOA needed
specific kinds of new assistance we would be open to
discussing those needs.
2. (C) COMMENT: This is not the first time the MFA has
bristled at our warden messages. However, this time their
reaction was far more tempered than it was after the April 11
bombings. It is clear to us that the GOA is deeply worried
about the possibility of foreign diplomats and multinational
corporations leaving Algiers due to security concerns. At
the same time, the MFA recognizes the fact that many other
diplomatic missions and businesses in Algiers are poised to
follow our lead with whatever security measures we adopt.
FORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC PREL AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT BRISTLES AT WARDEN MESSAGE ...
AGAIN
REF: SECSTATE 169912
1. (C) Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on December 26 to meet with Fatiha Selmane, Director
General of the MFA's Americas Division. Selmane said that
she was instructed by her superiors to express Algerian
"displeasure" with the latest warden message sent out by the
Embassy on December 23. Specifically, Selmane said she
understood and respected the Embassy's need to communicate
with American citizens in Algeria, but asked why the warden
message needed to be publicized on the website, implying that
excessive publicity was alarmist and hence undermining
Algeria's effort to fight terrorism. Ambassador responded by
providing Selmane with copies of 7 FAM 51.3 and 7 FAM 58.3
which outline the procedures for releasing warden and travel
warning messages. The Ambassador explained the double
standard policy, and Selmane acknowledged that foreigners in
Algiers were justifiably concerned with the security
situation. Selmane also pledged to support the Ambassador's
request for increased perimeter security around the Embassy's
housing compound, which the Ambassador stressed as a tripwire
that could conceivably trigger the departures of Embassy
dependents. Ambassador reiterated our strong support for
Algeria's work fighting terrorism and said if the GOA needed
specific kinds of new assistance we would be open to
discussing those needs.
2. (C) COMMENT: This is not the first time the MFA has
bristled at our warden messages. However, this time their
reaction was far more tempered than it was after the April 11
bombings. It is clear to us that the GOA is deeply worried
about the possibility of foreign diplomats and multinational
corporations leaving Algiers due to security concerns. At
the same time, the MFA recognizes the fact that many other
diplomatic missions and businesses in Algiers are poised to
follow our lead with whatever security measures we adopt.
FORD