NEA DAS CARPENTER'S REVIEW OF MEPI PROGRAMS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000047 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017 TAGS: PREL KMPI KDEM AG SUBJECT: NEA DAS CARPENTER'S REVIEW OF MEPI PROGRAMS WITH MFA Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford, reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a January 9 meeting with MFA Director General for the Americas Selmane, NEA DAS Carpenter expressed satisfaction with the interest of various ministries in expanding MEPI programming in Algeria. Selmane undertook to coordinate the prioritization of the various requests and provide us the government's list. Carpenter said MEPI programs in Algeria had gone from being pilot projects to a new stage that would likely require Algerian financial support for the further expansion of U.S. technical assistance resources. He stressed that MEPI programs were a self-reinforcing package. In this context, Carpenter stressed that Algeria's treatment of NDI colored the overall perception in Washington of Algeria's cooperation with MEPI. While Selmane responded that she had nothing new to offer Carpenter about NDI, discussions in Washington between Algerian Ambassador Kherbi and NDI would continue. The GOA had also approved NDI's women's seminar scheduled for April and would support it. Carpenter said it was important that these discussions continue. End Summary. FROM PILOT PROJECTS TO POSSIBLE FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Carpenter, accompanied by Ambassador, told MFA Director General for the Americas Fatiha Selmane January 9 that his visit to review MEPI programming in Algeria had generated considerable positive feedback. Describing his "excellent" meetings with different ministries about MEPI's programs, Carpenter expressed surprise at the extent to which the government partners wanted to expand, broaden and deepen MEPI programming. Carpenter observed that most of the MEPI programs in Algeria began as pilot projects that the GOA now wants to expand. While he welcomed the interest in developing more programming, Carpenter said he was overwhelmed by the requests he had received and cautioned that U.S. budgetary resources were limited. ¶3. (SBU) In light of the evolution of MEPI programming that had taken place in Algeria since his last visit two years ago, DAS Carpenter described the cooperation with Algeria as entering a new phase. In this new phase the U.S. would be looking to the Algerian government to share in the funding of programs. The Ambassador added that the U.S. had few constraints on supplying technical experts, provided that the GOA could make available additional financial resources. We look forward to an exchange with MFA on the GOA's priorities for expanded programming and an enhanced partnership in this new phase, concluded Carpenter. Selmane responded that the MFA would coordinate the prioritization of the various ministries' new requests and would communicate the government's priorities to us. NDI COLORS THE OVERALL PARTNERSHIP -------------- ¶4. (C) Against the backdrop of the numerous requests he had received in Algiers for expanded cooperation, Carpenter emphasized that it was important to understand that Washington saw MEPI programming as a package rather than a series of cafeteria offerings. MEPI programs were self-reinforcing, whether they were focused on the political, economic or civil society sectors. This was why, he explained, it was hard for Washington to understand the reluctance of the GOA to cooperate on the National Democratic Institute's (NDI) programming. ¶5. (C) Carpenter noted that NDI's difficulties had colored the overall perception in Washington of Algeria's acceptance of MEPI programming. He stressed that he could not emphasize enough the NDI prism through which Algeria was seen in Washington. The interest in supporting NDI, as former Secretary of State Albright's recent letter to President SIPDIS Bouteflika had demonstrated, was strong. Interest was bound to increase, said Carpenter, now that the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress. ¶6. (C) Selmane responded that she had nothing new to offer from the GOA side on NDI. She said discussions of NDI programming would continue and stressed that MFA Secretary General Lamamra had directed the Algerian ambassador to the U.S. to have contact with NDI representatives in Washington. Selmane also said the GOA had approved the holding of NDI's women's seminar in April and would give the event its support. Carpenter said Algerian Ambassador Kherbi's contacts with NDI were a positive development; it was important that these discussions continue. Carpenter nevertheless reiterated that MEPI programming was a package and that making progress on the Algerian acceptance of NDI's programming was very important to us. ¶7. (U) DAS Carpenter has cleared this message. FORD