ALGERIAN RESPONSE TO EL-BARADEI REPORT ON SYRIA

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001043 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM KNNC IAEA SYR AG SUBJECT: ALGERIAN RESPONSE TO EL-BARADEI REPORT ON SYRIA REF: STATE 119161 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief on November 19 explained reftel points on the most recent IAEA Director General report on Syria to Hamza Khelif, head of the Sub-Directorate for Disarmament in the MFA's General Directorate for Political and International Security Affairs, and left him a copy of para 6 reftel points. ¶2. (SBU) Saying he would refer the points to higher MFA authorities, Khelif repeated Algeria's official position: that all NPT states must carry out their treaty obligations, which the IAEA has the mandate to monitor. Syria must elucidate any unclear points with the IAEA to alleviate the preoccupations of the international community. Algeria supported a strict enforcement of the NPT. ¶3. (SBU) Khelif went on to say that the Middle East did not need new nuclear states, but did need universal adhesion to the NPT. (Note: a clear reference to Israel.) On the disarmament dimensions of the NPT, Khelif said that Algeria was encouraged by the move toward U.S.-Russia discussions of a new START treaty. PEARCE