ALGERIAN MFA OFFERS MEASURED CRITICISM OF 2008 IRFR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001052

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/IRF WCOFSKY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV OPRC KIRF KPAO AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN MFA OFFERS MEASURED CRITICISM OF 2008 IRFR

REF: A. STATE 99226

B. ALGIERS 1024

Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Director General for the Americas (A/S equivalent)
Fatiha Selmane called in the Ambassador on September 28 to
deliver an official reaction to the 2008 International
Religious Freedom Report (IRFR) (ref A). Selmane asserted
that the IRFR's conclusions did not match Algerian reality.
She recalled past conversations with the Embassy about
Algeria's religious freedom record and regretted that this
dialogue was not reflected in the report. She said that
Algeria had a long history of religious tolerance; however,
its experience with missionaries during colonial rule has
made the question of evangelism a very sensitive issue.


2. (C) Despite these sensitivities, Selmane noted, after
independence the government retained good relations with the
Catholic Church which, she pointed out, "was a just supporter
of Algerian independence." Freedom of religion was
guaranteed and Algeria was known for its religious tolerance.
In recent times, Selmane said, the arrival of evangelists,
whose "aggressive" proselytism offended Islamic
sensitivities, had prompted the elaboration of Ordinance
06-03 in 2006. She emphasized that all religious activity,
Muslim and non-Muslim alike, was subject to Algerian law and
treated equally. Selmane ended by saying that all religious
minorities must be free from discrimination and hoped that
next year's IRFR would be more objective.


3. (C) The Ambassador told Selmane that we were fully
sensitive to Algeria's colonial history, but the debate on
religious freedom was a worldwide issue, not just a question
for Algeria. As for Algeria's own record, the Ambassador
said that the issue was not just about the law itself, or the
need for the law to be respected by everyone. The issue was
the lack of clarity about how the law was interpreted and
enforced, esepcially with regard to the registration
requirements for churches and religious organizations. He
underscored the need for a legal process governing both
Muslim and non-Muslim religious practice that was more
transparent and more clearly communicated.


4. (C) COMMENT: Given the negative official statements in
the press (ref B),we were prepared for a tense discussion
with MFA about this year's IRFR. Although Selmane clearly
conveyed Algeria's disappointment with the report, she read
her demarche calmly from prepared talking points and did not
address or challenge any specific aspect of the IRFR. This
was in stark contrast to the Minister of Religious Affairs,
who had asserted publicly that there was no evidence to
support the report's conclusions (ref B). END COMMENT.


5. (C) Following the meeting with Selmane, Algerian
Ambassador-designate to the U.S. Abdellah Baali confided to
the Ambassador that Selmane's demarche had been one the MFA
was required to make, but it was doubtful Selmane had been
keen to do so. Ambassador repeated to Baali the U.S. concern
about lack of clarity and transparency. Baali responded that
the fact was, there were differences of opinion among
Algerian officials on the issue, and this had resulted in
some confusion about its handling on the Algerian side. He
noted as well the uncertain political climate and "anxiety"
over a possible third term for President Bouteflika, and said
he hoped things would be clearer after the election
(presidential elections are expected in April 2009).
PEARCE