C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 001181

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ML MR AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA REMAINS FIRM ON MAURITANIA, SEES SOME
PROGRESS IN SAHEL

REF: A. ALGIERS 906

B. ALGIERS 704

Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) MFA Director General for African Affairs (A/S
equivalent) Lounes Magramane told visiting NEA/MAG Director
Stephanie Williams November 3 that Algeria remains firmly
opposed to the unconstitutional removal of Mauritanian
President Abdallahi from power as a result of the August
coup. Magramane reiterated Algeria's position that the
crisis in Mauritania needed to be resolved by restoring a
constitutionally legitimate government (ref A). Magramane
also noted that Mauritania remains suspended from Africa
Union (AU) activities and added that Mauritania did not
attend the recent meeting of African culture ministers in
Algiers: "We did not even send them an invitation."
Magramane acknowledged, however, that Mauritania still
attends Arab League meetings.

PROGRESS IN THE SAHEL, NO THANKS TO BAHANGA
--------------


2. (C) Turning to other Sahel issues, Magramane quickly
clarified that Algeria had no part in the freeing of the
Austrian hostages held by AQIM, adding, "that is a bilateral
issue between Austria and Mali -- we were not involved." On
the Algiers Accord, Magramane emphasized that negotiations
had yielded steady, albeit slow progress. Implementation of
the Accord, he stressed, was hampered by the failure to
respect the cease-fire and lack of trust on both sides. At
the last round of meetings held in Algiers in late August,
Magramane said, Mali's interior minister attended but Tuareg
rebel leader Ibrahim ag Bahanga was present only for one of
the three meetings held. Magramane remarked that Bahanga was
now spending more time in Libya and that his credibility in
the process was slipping. "He made his choice," Magramane
quipped. The other May 23 Tuareg Alliance delegates present,
he said, expressed willingness to cooperate.


3. (C) Magramane said the implementation of the Accord hinged
on the successful consolidation of the cease-fire agreement.
He noted that the Malian army significantly strengthened its
positions in the north in May 2006 and that a key Tuareg
demand was for the reduction of Mali's military presence in
the region -- a condition shared by Algeria (ref B).
Magramane said this was a difficult condition for the Malians
to accept. The agreement to return to the status quo prior
to May 2006, he explained, was an effort to compromise on
both sides. Magramane said as part of the status quo the two
sides agreed to the reestablishment of mixed special security
units and the establishment of a commission to investigate
assassinations committed by both sides. The recent exchange
of hostages in August was also an important confidence
building measure, he noted.

SAHEL SECURITY AND POSSIBLE COOPERATION
--------------


4. (C) Magramane described the atmospherics of the talks as
calm and expressed his hope that they would ultimately
succeed, with time and patience. Beyond security measures,
Magramane underscored the need for economic development in
northern Mali to address the underlying cause of tension in
the region. Magramane described several infrastructure
projects, such as health centers, vocational training centers
and drilling projects for water, that Algeria was prepared to
finance. He regretted, however, that the Malians did not
seem enthusiastic about the potential benefit of development
and had done little follow-up.


5. (C) COMMENT: NEA/MAG Director Williams underscored that
the U.S. was ready and willing to work with Algeria to find
ways we might assist in the implementation of the Algiers
Accord. Magramane wryly thanked her for the offer and
assured us that the Algerians would "be in contact." He made
no specific response to our outstanding offer to discuss U.S.
assistance in the stand-up of the mixed security units.


6. (U) NEA/MAG Director Williams did not have the opportunity
to clear this cable.

ALGIERS 00001181 002.2 OF 002


PEARCE