(C) KUDOS FOR ALGERIA REPORTING (C-ME9-01697)

S E C R E T STATE 092997

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2034
TAGS: PINR PINS PTER SOCI AG
SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS FOR ALGERIA REPORTING (C-ME9-01697)

REF: A. ALGIERS 447

B. ALGIERS 463

C. ALGIERS 492

D. ALGIERS 496

E. ALGIERS 984

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATE THE HIGH QUALITY
REPORTING RECEIVED FROM EMBASSY, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST
YEAR. IN PARTICULAR, WE WOULD LIKE TO CITE YOUR COVERAGE OF
ISSUES/EVENTS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, WHICH WE REALIZE CAN MEAN
WORKING IN DIFFICULT SECURITY ENVIRONMENTS AND OCCASIONAL
RISKS TO EMBASSY STAFF.


2. (S/N) EMBASSY STAFF OBTAINED IMPORTANT INSIGHTS BY
REACHING OUT TO A WIDE RANGE OF CONTACTS, INCLUDING FOREIGN
OFFICIALS, CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS, AND EMBASSY FOREIGN
SERVICE NATIONALS. SPECIFICALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
ALGIERS 447, 463, 492, AND 49, FOR THE VALUABLE INSIGHTS THEY
PROVIDED ON ISSUES LIKE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, TRIBAL
RELATIONS, EMIGRATION, AND ARMS SMUGGLING. IN ADDITION,
ALGIERS 984 PROVIDED EXTENSIVE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL
BACKGROUND ON THE KABYLE BERBERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE GOVERNMENT AND ALGERIAN TERRORISTS, A REPORT THAT HAS
PROVED TO BE INVALUABLE FOR DRAFTING A LONGER PAPER ON KABYLE
CULTURE.
CLINTON