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