Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ALGIERS1076
2009-12-03 16:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
2010 NTE ON THE ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT - ALGERIA
VZCZCXRO6722 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAS #1076 3371647 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031647Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8189 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ALGIERS 001076
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTR - BURKHEAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD KBCT AG
SUBJECT: 2010 NTE ON THE ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT - ALGERIA
REF: STATE 118797
Summary
-------
UNCLAS ALGIERS 001076
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTR - BURKHEAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD KBCT AG
SUBJECT: 2010 NTE ON THE ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT - ALGERIA
REF: STATE 118797
Summary
--------------
1. Algeria does not enforce the Arab League Boycott against
Israel and purchases some Israeli goods via intermediaries.
American firms operating in Algeria report no GOA inquiries
related to the boycott. End Summary.
Boycott Not Applied
--------------
2. Algerian law contains no specific codifications or
references to the Arab League boycott, and post knows of no
GOA public statements on the issue. While the primary boycott
is informally recognized by virtue of Algeria's membership in
the Arab League, there is no GOA treaty, convention, or
legislation mandating conformity with, or participation in,
the boycott.
3. There is no evidence that the GOA enforces the primary
aspect of the boycott. Algerian firms can and do readily
acquire Israeli products that have been stripped of Israeli
markings from intermediaries in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, or
elsewhere. (Note: These tend to be specialized goods such as
irrigation and desalination equipment and parts. End Note)
There is no office in Algeria to facilitate such indirect
trade with Israel.
4. There have been calls during each of the U.S. conflicts
with Iraq, primarily from the Algerian business community, to
observe the boycott. (Comment: These calls only came in
during the first few weeks of these conflicts and not,
paradoxically, during recent Israeli incursions into Gaza).
However, these appeals stemmed more from a protectionist fear
of being undersold by Israeli-origin goods than political or
religious principle. There have been no such appeals in the
last year. In addition, there is no evidence of GOA
adherence to the secondary/tertiary aspects of the boycott.
For example, GOA and Algerian firms do business with
Microsoft, Citibank, Northrop Grumman, and Proctor & Gamble,
all of which do business here as well as in Israel.
Additionally, the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (a
private NGO) categorically states that Algeria does not
enforce the secondary boycott as of September 2007.
5. Algeria does not maintain a boycott office. There was
once a joint boycott enforcement commission made up of staff
from the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce that met
periodically. However, the commission appears to have become
defunct. Since 2006, contacts at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs have not been able to recall the last time the
commission met and have denied any MFA role in boycott
enforcement.
Trade with Israel
--------------
6. Numerous American firms that operate in Algeria have
operations in Israel, and we have no record of U.S. firms
facing boycott-related obstacles. However, in 2007, some
companies complained to us that U.S. citizens with Israeli
stamps in their passports have faced delays in receiving
Algerian visas.
Arab Boycott Meetings
--------------
7. Post has been unable to determine whether Algeria has
attended recent Arab League Boycott meetings.
JORDAN
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO USTR - BURKHEAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD KBCT AG
SUBJECT: 2010 NTE ON THE ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT - ALGERIA
REF: STATE 118797
Summary
--------------
1. Algeria does not enforce the Arab League Boycott against
Israel and purchases some Israeli goods via intermediaries.
American firms operating in Algeria report no GOA inquiries
related to the boycott. End Summary.
Boycott Not Applied
--------------
2. Algerian law contains no specific codifications or
references to the Arab League boycott, and post knows of no
GOA public statements on the issue. While the primary boycott
is informally recognized by virtue of Algeria's membership in
the Arab League, there is no GOA treaty, convention, or
legislation mandating conformity with, or participation in,
the boycott.
3. There is no evidence that the GOA enforces the primary
aspect of the boycott. Algerian firms can and do readily
acquire Israeli products that have been stripped of Israeli
markings from intermediaries in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, or
elsewhere. (Note: These tend to be specialized goods such as
irrigation and desalination equipment and parts. End Note)
There is no office in Algeria to facilitate such indirect
trade with Israel.
4. There have been calls during each of the U.S. conflicts
with Iraq, primarily from the Algerian business community, to
observe the boycott. (Comment: These calls only came in
during the first few weeks of these conflicts and not,
paradoxically, during recent Israeli incursions into Gaza).
However, these appeals stemmed more from a protectionist fear
of being undersold by Israeli-origin goods than political or
religious principle. There have been no such appeals in the
last year. In addition, there is no evidence of GOA
adherence to the secondary/tertiary aspects of the boycott.
For example, GOA and Algerian firms do business with
Microsoft, Citibank, Northrop Grumman, and Proctor & Gamble,
all of which do business here as well as in Israel.
Additionally, the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (a
private NGO) categorically states that Algeria does not
enforce the secondary boycott as of September 2007.
5. Algeria does not maintain a boycott office. There was
once a joint boycott enforcement commission made up of staff
from the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce that met
periodically. However, the commission appears to have become
defunct. Since 2006, contacts at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs have not been able to recall the last time the
commission met and have denied any MFA role in boycott
enforcement.
Trade with Israel
--------------
6. Numerous American firms that operate in Algeria have
operations in Israel, and we have no record of U.S. firms
facing boycott-related obstacles. However, in 2007, some
companies complained to us that U.S. citizens with Israeli
stamps in their passports have faced delays in receiving
Algerian visas.
Arab Boycott Meetings
--------------
7. Post has been unable to determine whether Algeria has
attended recent Arab League Boycott meetings.
JORDAN