ALGERIA AND THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001072 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/MAG - NARDI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MARR MOPS AF PK AG SUBJECT: ALGERIA AND THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN REF: STATE 122731 ¶1. (SBU) Charge discussed reftel points with Algerian MFA Director General for the Americas, Sabri Boukhadoum on December 1. Charge said we wanted to preview the President's speech because Algeria is a close partner in security matters and in light of Foreign Minister Medelci's upcoming visit to Washington. Boukhadoum expressed appreciation for the preview of this important U.S. foreign policy announcement. He commented that although Afghanistan and Pakistan were far removed from North Africa, Algeria and its President followed events there closely: Algeria continued to confront first hand Algerians who had fought in Afghanistan and then returned as radicals. Partly to reduce this continuing phenomenon, Boukhadoum said that Algeria hopes that the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan will not be open-ended, as President Obama has promised. He stressed the value of U.S.-Algerian cooperation on terrorism and, speaking as a newcomer to his position, said we should expand our overall relationship to the point where we are allies in all but name. JORDAN