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