FRIENDS OF IRAQ CONFERENCE WINS AT LEAST ONE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000721 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV AG IZ SUBJECT: FRIENDS OF IRAQ CONFERENCE WINS AT LEAST ONE ALGERIAN FRIEND REF: ALGIERS 680 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT S. FORD, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On June 21, Ambassador met Ambassador Baali, Counselor to Foreign Minister Medelcito discuss the Friends of Iraq conference held in United Arab Emirates on June 17-19. Baali who led the Algerian delegation, said he met with MNFI Commander General Petraeus, Iraqi National Security Advisor Mouwafaq Al-Rubaie and a Sunni parliamentarian from the Al-Sahwa movement who represents the Al-Adhamiya district of Baghdad. Baali said that based on the conversations he had had, it appeared that things in Iraq were moving in the right direction. He added he thought Algeria needs to change its policy towards Iraq and become more involved. ¶2. (C) Baali told Ambassador he had discussed with al-Rubai the flow of foreign figthers, and how to establish more contact between Iraqi security forces and the Algerian intelligence services. Ambassador responded by encouraging Algerian cooperation and asked if it would be helpful for an Iraqi intelligence service delegation to visit Algiers. Baali responded it might be possible, but he was careful not to commit. Baali added that he had discussed with al-Rubaie the possibility of al-Rubaie quietly visiting Algeria in the future. As for his meeting with the Sahwa parliamentarian, Baali said that she had conceded the Sunni made a mistake by boycotting the elections. Baali encouraged her to continue with her efforts in bringing the Sunnis back into the process. ¶3. (C) Towards the end of the meeting, Baali told Ambassador that he was surprised to learn that Algerian Ambassador to Iraq Mustafa Bouterfa, currently resident in Jordan, had never actually visited Baghdad, and had not presented his credentials to the Iraqi government. He wondered whether any senior official in the Algerian Government was aware of this. Baali added that in his written report he would recommend to President Bouteflika and Foreign Minister Medelci that Algeria reconsider opening its diplomatic representation in Baghdad, suggesting that a Charge d'Affaires be appointed instead of an Ambassador as a first step. He added that the 2005 slaying of two Algerian diplomats in Baghdad still weighs heavily on the Algerian psyche. ¶4. (C) Comment: While the Friends of Iraq conference may have succeeded in winning one new friend in the well-connected Ambassador Baali, there are limits to Baali's influence. Any decision related to Algeria-Iraq relations will revert to President Bouteflika. Indeed, the decision even to attend the conference itself came from Bouteflika - Baali said that he was only able to attend because the President had decided to send him. FORD