ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BEDJAOUI CRITICIZES U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000249

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2017
TAGS: PREL SCUL KDEM AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BEDJAOUI CRITICIZES U.S.
POLICY ON IRAQ, PALESTINIANS BUT WANTS MORE U.S. EDUCATION
PROGRAMMING IN ALGERIA


Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford; reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: FM Bedjaoui and U/S Hughes agreed February
24 on the need to work in partnership with the U.S. in
finding solutions to the problems of the region. While
agreeing on the importance of fighting terrorism across
borders, Bedjaoui and Hughes parted ways on how best to bring
about viable solutions in Palestine and Iraq. Bedjaoui
suggested that withdrawing U.S. troops and forcing the Iraqis
to solve their own problems was the best way forward.
Bedjaoui encouraged the U.S. to consider engaging parties
like Palestinian Hamas that it did not like, drawing an
analogy to the French not wanting initially to consider
Algerian independence worthy of negotiation. Bedjaoui said
bringing about democracy in the Middle East would take time
but that education was vital to the process. End Summary.

ALGERIA OFFERS LITTLE ON IRAQ AND PALESTINIAN PROBLEMS
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Under Secretary Karen Hughes, accompanied by the
Ambassador, NEA/MAG Director Elizabeth Hopkins and Embassy
Pol/Econ chief (notetaker),called on Foreign Minister
Mohamed Bedjaoui in Algiers February 24. Hughes described
one of the major aims of her job as addressing the root
causes of terrorism. She said the U.S. had much to learn
from the Algerian experience in combating terrorism.
Bedjaoui affirmed that Algeria's "long and bitter" struggle
with terrorism had taught it that terrorism knew no borders.
Algeria had also learned that it was equally vital to address
social and economic ills in combating extremism.


3. (C) U/S Hughes asked Bedjaoui for Algeria's help and
advice on Iraq and the Palestinian situation. Bedjaoui
suggested that withdrawing U.S. troops and forcing the Iraqis
to solve their own problems was the best approach. The
Ambassador noted that withdrawing U.S. troops would increase,
not diminish, the power of the militias in Iraq and hence
increase the likelihood of sectarian strife. Bedjaoui cited
the withdrawal of British troops as an indication that the
situation in Iraq was getting worse and expressed
disappointment that Iran now had more clout in the region
than it had prior to the U.S. invasion. He told U/S Hughes
the Administration should have taken more seriously the
Baker-Hamilton Report, which encouraged U.S. engagement of
Iran and Syria. Later over lunch, Bedjaoui decried the
execution of Saddam Hussein, which he insisted was a quote
political assassination end quote, had been done badly.
Hughes said the Iraqi government had been responsible for the
timing and manner of the execution but all should agree that
Saddam was a dictator who deserved no sympathy personally.


4. (C) On the Palestinian situation, where Hamas did not
recognize Israel's right to exist, Bedjaoui pointed out that
many negotiations started from such circumstances. He cited
Algeria's own independence struggle as an example, noting
that Charles DeGaulle of France did not initially recognize
the need to negotiate with the Algerians on their
independence. Hamas, continued Bedjaoui, won free and fair
elections. Bedjaoui opined that over time Hamas would come
to recognize Israel. The situation in Iraq, like that in
Palestine, concerned everyone. Algeria joined the U.S. in
the desire to find a settlement to both conflicts as soon as
possible. It would be foolish and irresponsible now to blame
the Americans for trying to find solutions to these problems,
no matter what paths had been traveled to this point.
Algeria, he said, would do its best to assist. (Comment: he
offered nothing concrete, however. End Comment.)

EDUCATION VITAL TO MIDDLE EAST
--------------


5. (C) The foreign minister offered the example of the
African Union's Counterterrorism Center, located in Algiers,
as an area of cooperation with the United States in advancing
mutual interests -- in this case fighting terrorism in the
Sahel. Hughes said the U.S. was indeed grateful for
Algeria's cooperation in the fight against terrorism and
sought to expand our cooperation, as partners, in economic
and educational areas. Bedjaoui opined that he was one of
relatively few Arab senior officials who carefully reads the
annual UNDP reports on human development in the Arab world.
The reports, he noted, made clear that the educational system
in the 22 Arab countries was poor and dwindling. Without a
push from outside, future educational development in the
region faced bleak prospects. Bedjaoui said it was vital to
overcome this educational deficit in the Arab world.
Developing democracy, he observed, was a process of learning
a culture through education.


6. (U) Under Secretary Hughes has cleared this message.


FORD