Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ALGIERS961
2009-10-27 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
ALGERIA: ELECTIONS NOT ENOUGH IN GUINEA
how-toVZCZCXRO1306 OO RUEHPA RUEHTRO DE RUEHAS #0961 3001439 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271439Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8031 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY PRIORITY 0016 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000961
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV AG GV
SUBJECT: ALGERIA: ELECTIONS NOT ENOUGH IN GUINEA
Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Toward the end of an October 17 meeting with Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Defense Ambassador Vicki Huddleston
on Algeria's view of African security issues (details septel
notal),Algerian Minister of State for African and Maghreb
Affairs Abdelkader Messahel noted Algeria's deep concern
about the crisis in Guinea and revealed that Algerian
officials had been in contact with Guinea's opposition
leaders. Messahel called the September 28 stadium incident
troubling and said it underlined Guinea's ethnic divisions
and deeply troubled political system. Messahel argued that
holding elections in five to six months would not resolve the
crisis. Even a new, democratically elected government would
be ill-prepared to cope with the country's ethnic problems
and rebuilding government institutions. Messahel said
restoring order to Guinea will require the departure of the
military and a transition period of five years. Drawing
parallels to Portugal after the fall of Salazar in 1974,
Messahel said Guinea's political parties should agree on a
five-year transition plan for reconstruction after which
elections would be held. Algeria, he said, plans to work
with ECOWAS to encourage a common West African approach to
Guinea and said the issue will be raised at an October 29
heads of state summit in Abuja that will also discuss
Zimbabwe.
PEARCE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV AG GV
SUBJECT: ALGERIA: ELECTIONS NOT ENOUGH IN GUINEA
Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Toward the end of an October 17 meeting with Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Defense Ambassador Vicki Huddleston
on Algeria's view of African security issues (details septel
notal),Algerian Minister of State for African and Maghreb
Affairs Abdelkader Messahel noted Algeria's deep concern
about the crisis in Guinea and revealed that Algerian
officials had been in contact with Guinea's opposition
leaders. Messahel called the September 28 stadium incident
troubling and said it underlined Guinea's ethnic divisions
and deeply troubled political system. Messahel argued that
holding elections in five to six months would not resolve the
crisis. Even a new, democratically elected government would
be ill-prepared to cope with the country's ethnic problems
and rebuilding government institutions. Messahel said
restoring order to Guinea will require the departure of the
military and a transition period of five years. Drawing
parallels to Portugal after the fall of Salazar in 1974,
Messahel said Guinea's political parties should agree on a
five-year transition plan for reconstruction after which
elections would be held. Algeria, he said, plans to work
with ECOWAS to encourage a common West African approach to
Guinea and said the issue will be raised at an October 29
heads of state summit in Abuja that will also discuss
Zimbabwe.
PEARCE