Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Meeting with

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 113844

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN PREL PGOV MASS MOPS
CVIS, ML, AG
SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Meeting with
Algerian Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense
Senhadji

Classified by NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gene A.
Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) October 22, 2008; 11:30 am; Washington, DC.


2. (C) Participants:

U.S.
Deputy Secretary Negroponte
Ambassador David Pearce
NEA DAS Gene Cretz
Aaron Jost, D Special Assistant
Jessica Patterson (NEA Notetaker)

Algeria
Major General Ahmed Senhadji, Secretary General of the
Ministry of National Defense
Ambassador Amine Kherbi
Col. Benyakho Bendoukha, DATT
DCM Djamel Moktefi
Captain Abdelkrim Benouda, Assistant to the Secretary
General


3. (C) SUMMARY. In an October 22 meeting with Deputy
Secretary Negroponte, Algerian Secretary General for the
Ministry of National Defense praised the progress of
U.S.-Algeria military cooperation. He highlighted the
ongoing threat of terrorism in the area, and requested
more IMET funding. Senhadji identified the occasional
failure to secure U.S. visas for Algerian military
officials as a significant impediment to military
cooperation. He questioned the commitment of Malian
government officials to fight terrorism. The Deputy
Secretary reaffirmed the USG commitment to partner with
Algeria in the fight against terrorism in the Maghreb.
He also acknowledged the difficulties inherent in the
U.S. visa process that affect Algerian and other foreign
officials. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Important Partnership
--------------


4. (C) MG Senhadji (the Algerian equivalent of the
Deputy Secretary of Defense),in Washington for the
third U.S.-Algeria Joint Military Dialogue (JMD),
emphasized the importance to Algeria of "deep, loyal and
long-term cooperation" with the USG to try to ensure
security in the Maghreb region. He noted that the
initiative for the JMD was launched during a meeting of
the U.S. and Algerian Presidents. The Deputy Secretary
observed that the USG and Algeria had been deepening our
relationship, and thanked the Algerians for their
efforts and success in stemming the tide of foreign
fighters leaving Algeria for Iraq.

-------------- ---
Algeria's Perspective on Transnational Terrorism
-------------- ---


5. (C) Senhadji said that the threat Algeria faced from
Islamic terrorists in the 1990's was a threat to its
very existence, and that almost "every Algerian family
has buried their own victim of terrorism." Because of
that, most of the population has rejected Islamic
extremism. However, a threat still exists, and
terrorists have found a "favorable area" along Algeria's
southern border, where they are involved in trafficking
illicit goods and recruiting. He noted Algeria was
always looking to increase counterterrorism cooperation
with the United States, and hoped the United States
understood that what might not be possible when
requested today might be possible tomorrow. The Deputy
Secretary said he had followed the expansion of al-Qaida
to the Maghreb as Director of National Intelligence. He
emphasized that we do not want to see North Africa
become "the new battleground for global extremists," and
that the USG is committed to working closely with the

STATE 00113844 002 OF 002

SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Meeting with
Algerian Secretary General of the Ministry of Defen
GOA to resolve the issue. Senhadji concurred with the
Deputy Secretary's assessment that cooperation should
continue not only on a bilateral U.S.-Algerian basis,
but also on a regional basis.

--------------
Mali
--------------


6. (C) The Deputy Secretary requested Senhadji's view on
counterterrorism cooperation with Mali. Senhadji,
clarifying that he was speaking as a military person
rather than a diplomat, said the situation was of great
concern. He said some high level members of the Malian
government "believe in the terrorist movement," making
it difficult to know if any given interlocutor is
committed to fighting terrorism. It was hard to know
who to trust. The Deputy Secretary agreed that it was
important to find reliable interlocutors and said he
would look into the matter. Senhadji and Kherbi later
revised and/or extended these remarks by saying that
some senior Mali officials sold arms to make money,
without being concerned that they were going to
terrorists. He and Senhadji agreed the GOA would have
to maintain a dialogue with the GOM as they are
neighbors and need to work together on this issue.

--------------
Next Steps
--------------


7. (C) Senhadji praised the progress in the U.S.-Algeria
dialogue, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises. He
characterized the talks as productive, and said that
they showed a level of trust and cooperation
unimaginable only three years ago. He requested an
expansion of IMET programs for Algeria, saying that
training has the benefit of ensuring long-term
capabilities and cooperation. He also noted
difficulties regarding joint exercises resulting from
the Algerian military's difficultly in long term
planning (because it was small) and changing U.S. plans
due to heavy demands on U.S. forces. The Deputy
Secretary confirmed that we would review the level of
USG training efforts in Algeria to determine the
potential for expansion.

--------------
Problem Area -- Visas
--------------


8. (C) Senhadji complained that, on a few occasions,
Algerian military officials selected to participate in
U.S.-based training, or, in one particular case, attend
this JMD, have been "refused" visas. (Note: The visas
in question were not refused, but delayed due to SAO
processing. End note.) He said such instances both
have an immediate effect on the activities the officials
were traveling for but also has the political effect of
putting a "shadow" on the relationship. The Deputy
Secretary expressed regret over the visa problems. He
acknowledged that it was "especially difficult when
people who themselves have been fighting against
terrorism" face obstacles in getting visas. Senhadji
expressed appreciation of the Deputy Secretary's
understanding of the irony of the situation. (Note: At
the JMD closing plenary, Senhadji shared, with great
satisfaction, the Deputy Secretary's comment. End
note). The Deputy Secretary said planning ahead would
help minimize these problems.
RICE