ALGERIA TO ENGAGE IRAN ON AMCIT DETAINEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000839 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG STATE PASS FOR USTR (BURKHEAD) COMMERCE FOR NATE MASON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019 TAGS: AG CASC IR KNNP MNUC PARM PHUM PTER SUBJECT: ALGERIA TO ENGAGE IRAN ON AMCIT DETAINEES REF: A) SECSTATE 95073 B) SECSTATE 94757 Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Algerian MFA says that Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs would engage with his Iranian colleague on the margins of UNGA to help obtain the humanitarian release of U.S. citizens detained in Iran. It would also instruct its Ambassador in Geneva to work with the U.S. and Egyptian delegations to obtain a consensus resolution on freedom of expression at the UN Human Rights Council. And on the P5 Plus One meeting, it supported the need for engagement, finding a peaceful diplomatic resolution to the Iran nuclear issue, and avoiding an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. End summary. Algerian FM to Engage Iran Counterpart at UNGA -------------- - ¶2. (C) Ambassador presented ref a demarche on Iranian nuclear issues and human rights in Iran to MFA Director for Political and International Security Affairs Boudjemaa Delmi September ¶17. Delmi said it was hard to know what Iranian intentions were. He speculated that they might be seeking to internationalize the negotiations by focusing them on the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear power, and hence break out of the P5 plus One framework. He was not sure whether this was a trial balloon or a new negotiating strategy, perhaps meant to divert attention from international focus on the controversy over Iran's elections. Delmi noted that at the IAEA General Conference now under way, Iran would bring the issue of Israel and nuclear weapons into discussions of a Middle East nuclear-free zone. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador said that the Iranians had made a proposal for the P5 Plus One discussions that made no mention of the nuclear issue. But the P5 plus One was of course a mechanism designed to address the nuclear issue. We wanted a diplomatic solution, we were prepared to engage in the P5 plus One context, and we would do so in a spirit of mutual respect. But it was essential that Iran engage seriously on the nuclear issue and we would appreciate the help of our Algerian friends in encouraging them in this direction, whether in public or in private. No one disputed IranQ,s rights regarding the pursuit of the peaceful uses of nuclear power. What was at issue was Iran fulfilling its obligations to the UN, the IAEA and the NPT. It had lost the confidence of the international community, and it would be unfortunate if it failed to engage seriously and meet its obligations. ¶4. (C) Delmi said that Foreign Minister Meldelci would speak with his Iranian counterpart and urge a negotiated political solution to the nuclear issue. Algeria's main goal was to avoid all escalation and deepen negotiations in order to achieve a peaceful solution and avoid a dangerous escalation of tensions in the region. He said Algeria looked forward to the September 24 Security Council special session on nuclear disarmament, chaired by President Obama. Will Deliver US Message on Detained/Missing Amcits -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Polchief delivered ref B nonpaper on detained/missing Amcits to Americas section of MFA on September 17 and Ambassador then followed up with Delmi as well. Recalling Algeria's role in obtaining the freedom of U.S. hostages in Iran three decades ago, Ambassador requested Algerian help in convincing Iran to free the detained and missing American citizens on a humanitarian basis and without politicizing the issue. Delmi was aware of our earlier demarche, and said that he would pass the Ambassador's message immediately to the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mourad Medelci. He said Medelci planned to meet his Iranian counterpart at UNGA sometime after his arrival in New York on September 22. Delmi said he expected that the minister would urge Iran to free the American citizens on a humanitarian basis. Delmi noted that the Algeria-Iran FM bilat was anticipated to occur before Medelci's expected meetings with U/S Burns and NEA A/S Feltman, so the minister should be in a position to provide the US officials with a readout on his meeting with the Iranian. He added that he did not know if President Ahmadinejad would be attending UNGA, but he suspected there was a good chance he would, since Iran was passing the presidency of the G-15 to Sri Lanka. If so, it was possible President Bouteflika would be seeing Ahmadinejad. And in ALGIERS 00000839 002 OF 002 that case, Delmi thought, Bouteflika too would likely deploy the message on the Amcits. Willing to Work with US in Geneva at HRC -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador also sought Algerian assistance in working with the US mission in Geneva to find consensus language on a resolution at the Human Rights Council regarding freedom of expression. Delmi responded that Algeria's Ambassador in Geneva had already informed the Ministry of the U.S.-Egyptian effort in this regard, and the Algerians had been in touch with the Egyptians. He said he would instruct the Algerian ambassador to work closely with both delegations to achieve a consensus. Algeria had some reservations, mainly that there not be a blank check, e.g. for attacks on religious symbols, whether the issue was Islam or Judaism, but he thought there were no fundamental problems with the resolution that could not be worked out. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Delmi was very positive about helping on both the detained Amcits issue and the HRC resolution. He was more guarded on the Iran-P5 Plus One engagement, but clearly understood our message on the importance of Iran engaging seriously, and underlined the Algerian interest that the matter be resolved peacefully and without aggravating tensions in the region. The US message on all fronts will undoubtedly be conveyed immediately to both FM Medelci and President Bouteflika. End Comment. PEARCE