ALGERIA STANDS QUIETLY BEHIND AU AND ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000906 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MR AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA STANDS QUIETLY BEHIND AU AND ARAB LEAGUE RESPONSES TO MAURITANIA COUP REF: STATE 84915 Classified By: CDA, a.i. Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Charge met with newly appointed MFA Director General for African Affairs (A/S equivalent) Lounes Magramane on August 13 to deliver reftel demarche and underscore the need for a constitutional resolution to the crisis in Mauritania. Magramane said that Algeria was closely monitoring events in Nouakchott, adding that there was no doubt about the need to restore a constitutionally legitimate government. Asked directly whether Algeria would issue a public statement to this effect, Magramane quickly pointed out that the African Union had already suspended Mauritania's membership and stated publicly the need for a constitutional solution. Magramane added that AU and Arab League envoys were delivering that message to General Abdel Aziz. Magramane also argued that Algeria's public position required no clarification since the 1999 AU proclamation reaffirming the Harare Decision on unconstitutional removal of governments was adopted in Algiers. ¶2. (C) Charge asked if Algeria would be prepared to support an Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) condemnation of the Mauritanian coup. Magramane responded that the UMA was currently under the presidency of Libya, and the Algerians thus had no idea what the UMA was going to do: "We're not party to those discussions," he remarked wryly. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: So far, the Algerians are satisfied with the AU's public response to the coup and appear to prefer to use the AU statement for diplomatic cover and as an excuse to make no statement of their own. While President Bouteflika and Foreign Minister Medelci did not return from their weeklong trip to Asia until late on August 12, we do not anticipate a significant change in the Algerian position -- at least as long as the AU process appears to be continuing. DAUGHTON