GOVERNMENT ASSAULTS EMBASSY IN THE PRESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000248

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM AG
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ASSAULTS EMBASSY IN THE PRESS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Recent media interest in the activities of
the Ambassador and Embassy officials suddenly exploded onto
the front pages March 3 when several major local newspapers
featured critical remarks from Prime Minister Belkhadem and
Foreign Minister Medelci. According to the papers, both
Belkhadem and Medelci chastised the Embassy on March 2 for
"interfering" in Algeria's internal affairs for meeting
with political parties and members of civil society. We
have received no official indication of displeasure from
the government, however, despite several recent
opportunities for them to have delivered it. The two
ministers' remarks appear calculated primarily to divert
public attention from sorer domestic subjects; we plan to
seek official clarification. End Summary.

PM ASKS ALGERIAN POLITICAL PARTIES NOT TO TALK TO EMBASSIES
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2. (U) The March 3 editions of both French- and
Arabic-language newspapers carried extensive coverage of
the statements attributed to Prime Minister Belkhadem and
Foreign Minister Medelci outside parliament on March 2.
"Algeria does not accept interference in its domestic
issues from the U.S. embassy," commented PM Belkhadem
during a press conference following the opening of the
spring parliamentary session. "We ask our political
parties not to go through embassies in order to express
their concerns," he added. The statements were made in
response to a journalist's question about U.S. Embassy
meetings with political parties, NGOs and independent
unions, which have been increasingly featured in the
Algerian press (and where the proposed constitutional
revision and a third term for President Bouteflika were
allegedly discussed). Belkhadem also assigned blame to
political parties and civil society for discussing internal
issues with "entities representing foreign countries." The
statements received wide coverage locally in the March 3
printed media. One newspaper, the popular Echourouk
el-Youmi, reported that Belkhadem went so far as to say
that political parties and NGOs should not work with (in
Arabic, taammul) foreign embassies.

FM ALLEGEDLY REMINDS OF DIPLOMATIC ETIQUETTE
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3. (U) "We have explained to the U.S. Ambassador that he
needs to honor the rules and regulations of foreign
diplomatic missions...these rules apply to everybody,
without exception," the March 3 press reported Foreign
Minister Medelci as having said following the parliamentary
opening session. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
contacted Mr. Ford to remind him that his activities within
the framework of his mission in Algeria ought to respect
the elementary rules of diplomacy," asserted the
French-language daily L'Expression on March 3. Medelci is
also described as having complained that the Ambassador did
not seek permission from the ministry before his meetings
with civil society representatives.

BUILDING TO A CRESCENDO
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4. (C) Print media attention on the activities of the
Ambassador and Embassy officers has increased steadily in
the last two weeks, culminating in today's front-page
articles. The press reports and comments from the Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister referred to routine meetings
the Embassy has had with political parties, labor unions,
NGOs and members of civil society over recent months.
These meetings have covered such issues as human rights,
labor rights, religious freedom, Algerian and international
political developments and potential avenues for
cooperation. When the issue of the proposed revision of
the Algerian constitution has been raised Emboffs have
consistently stuck to one message: constitutional revisions
and a potential third term for President Bouteflika are
issues for the Algerians to decide, and we hope that
whatever processes are used to address these issues are
fair and transparent, and that the questions are subject to
genuine, public debate. The Ambassador described the same
position in his January 23 interview with Arabic-language
daily El Bilad, which received front-page attention then.

ALGIERS 00000248 002 OF 002



OFFICIAL SILENCE
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5. (C) Despite all of the media hoopla, we have received no
official communication from the MFA concerning Embassy
activities. Belkhadem and Medelci had ample opportunity to
raise any concerns during the February 26-27 visit of NEA
A/S David Welch, but did not (septel). In his February 27
meeting with A/S Welch, FM Medelci stressed the Algerian
government's desire to have a strong relationship with the
United States and described the contact between the MFA and
the Embassy as the most "important" of all the countries
represented in Algeria. The Ambassador made an
pre-arranged official visit to the Algerian Senate on March
3 morning and was warmly received.


6. (C) COMMENT: French Ambassador Bernard Bajolet told the
Ambassador March 2 that he believed the media attacks on
the Embassy were being used by Belkhadem to divert public
attention away from domestic issues that are fueling public
discontent. An editorial in the February 28 edition of
L'Expression newspaper made the same point. We share that
analysis; it appears Belkhedam may be nervous that we will
speak publicly against the move towards constitutional
amendments and a third term for Bouteflika. We also recall
that Bouteflika himself scolded Algerian NGOs for visiting
embassies during December 2006 remarks to the Algerian
parliament. The Algerian government's remarks may also be
reaction to a certain weakness on Belkhadem's part within
his own divided political party. The remarks are
nonetheless unhelpful and could easily scare some of our
contacts from seeing us. We will approach the foreign
ministry in the coming days to seek a clarification of the
two ministers' intent. In the meantime, we are using
routine press guidance about our normal activities in
response to inquiries.