Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ALGIERS568
2007-04-25 10:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
FM BEDJAOUI CAUTIONS ON CONSULAR WARDEN MESSAGES,
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAS #0568 1151029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251029Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3492 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1587 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2159 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6571 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2943 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000568
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PREL CASC MARR AG
SUBJECT: FM BEDJAOUI CAUTIONS ON CONSULAR WARDEN MESSAGES,
WONDERS ABOUT AFRICOM.
Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000568
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PREL CASC MARR AG
SUBJECT: FM BEDJAOUI CAUTIONS ON CONSULAR WARDEN MESSAGES,
WONDERS ABOUT AFRICOM.
Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) In an April 21 meeting with S/WCI Ambassador at
Large J. Clint Williamson in which Guantanamo detainee
issues were discussed (septel),FM Bedjaoui said the U.S. and
Algeria were "in the same boat" with respect to global
terrorism and that it was important to work together on Iraq
policy and terrorism-related issues. Given the Algerian
desire for close cooperation with the United States, Bedjaoui
said he hoped the U.S. "Embassy would help" in this regard.
He said the warden message the Embassy had disseminated to
U.S. citizens warning of possible terrorist attacks April 14
in central Algiers was "a problem" because the information
had been conveyed to the Algerian people outside of proper
channels. It was important, Bedjaoui stressed, that the U.S.
Embassy use appropriate channels.
NEED FOR BETTER COLLABORATION
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Ford responded that Algeria responding to
the April 11 attacks and the U.S. responding to the 9/11
attacks are fighting the same enemy - Islamist extremists.
The Ambassador noted that the Embassy and the U.S. Government
need to work together, therefore. The Ambassador also
expressed satisfaction with the improved collaboration
between the Embassy and the government following the April 11
events as compared to terrorist incidents in December.
3. (C) Bedjaoui explained that "true panic occurred" after
the release of the warden message to the extent that parents
did not send their kids to school. The Ambassador said he
hoped to have discussions in the coming days with MFA
officials to avoid future problems and misunderstandings. It
was not the intent of the U.S. or the Embassy, the Ambassador
emphasized, to cause panic. The Ambassador observed that he
also was under an obligation to share information with a very
nervous U.S. citizen community in Algeria. To allay the
concerns of these Americans, said the Ambassador, additional
support would be needed from the host government. Bedjaoui
responded that it was Algeria's obligation to help Ambassador
Ford and his team.
INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING AFRICOM
--------------
4. (C) Turning to the U.S. creation of AFRICOM, Bedjaoui said
Algeria would like more information on this new U.S.
endeavor. The FM noted that a million Algerians lost their
lives in the fight for independence from France. Bedjaoui
said this explained why Algerians were so sensitive to issues
of national sovereignty, such as the establishment of
military bases in Africa. Acknowledging that it was late in
coming, the Ambassador told Bedjaoui that we were expecting
an interagency delegation from the
U.S. in June to brief the GoA on AFRICOM. The Ambassador
drew Bedjaoui's attention to previous U.S. statements that we
did not request the establishment of military bases in
Algeria. He added that the U.S. understood very well the
importance Algeria attached to its sovereignty and its
opposition to hosting foreign military bases. Bedjaoui
acknowledged that the media had tried to inflate the question
of bases in Algeria and expressed appreciation for the
Secretary's assurances to him as well as the Ambassador's
SIPDIS
March 2007 remarks to the Algerian media.
FORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PREL CASC MARR AG
SUBJECT: FM BEDJAOUI CAUTIONS ON CONSULAR WARDEN MESSAGES,
WONDERS ABOUT AFRICOM.
Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) In an April 21 meeting with S/WCI Ambassador at
Large J. Clint Williamson in which Guantanamo detainee
issues were discussed (septel),FM Bedjaoui said the U.S. and
Algeria were "in the same boat" with respect to global
terrorism and that it was important to work together on Iraq
policy and terrorism-related issues. Given the Algerian
desire for close cooperation with the United States, Bedjaoui
said he hoped the U.S. "Embassy would help" in this regard.
He said the warden message the Embassy had disseminated to
U.S. citizens warning of possible terrorist attacks April 14
in central Algiers was "a problem" because the information
had been conveyed to the Algerian people outside of proper
channels. It was important, Bedjaoui stressed, that the U.S.
Embassy use appropriate channels.
NEED FOR BETTER COLLABORATION
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador Ford responded that Algeria responding to
the April 11 attacks and the U.S. responding to the 9/11
attacks are fighting the same enemy - Islamist extremists.
The Ambassador noted that the Embassy and the U.S. Government
need to work together, therefore. The Ambassador also
expressed satisfaction with the improved collaboration
between the Embassy and the government following the April 11
events as compared to terrorist incidents in December.
3. (C) Bedjaoui explained that "true panic occurred" after
the release of the warden message to the extent that parents
did not send their kids to school. The Ambassador said he
hoped to have discussions in the coming days with MFA
officials to avoid future problems and misunderstandings. It
was not the intent of the U.S. or the Embassy, the Ambassador
emphasized, to cause panic. The Ambassador observed that he
also was under an obligation to share information with a very
nervous U.S. citizen community in Algeria. To allay the
concerns of these Americans, said the Ambassador, additional
support would be needed from the host government. Bedjaoui
responded that it was Algeria's obligation to help Ambassador
Ford and his team.
INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING AFRICOM
--------------
4. (C) Turning to the U.S. creation of AFRICOM, Bedjaoui said
Algeria would like more information on this new U.S.
endeavor. The FM noted that a million Algerians lost their
lives in the fight for independence from France. Bedjaoui
said this explained why Algerians were so sensitive to issues
of national sovereignty, such as the establishment of
military bases in Africa. Acknowledging that it was late in
coming, the Ambassador told Bedjaoui that we were expecting
an interagency delegation from the
U.S. in June to brief the GoA on AFRICOM. The Ambassador
drew Bedjaoui's attention to previous U.S. statements that we
did not request the establishment of military bases in
Algeria. He added that the U.S. understood very well the
importance Algeria attached to its sovereignty and its
opposition to hosting foreign military bases. Bedjaoui
acknowledged that the media had tried to inflate the question
of bases in Algeria and expressed appreciation for the
Secretary's assurances to him as well as the Ambassador's
SIPDIS
March 2007 remarks to the Algerian media.
FORD