GOVERNMENT ASSAULTS EMBASSY IN THE PRESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000255

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.

OFFICIAL SILENCE

ALGIERS 00000255 002 OF 002


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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.
FORD