Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ALGIERS115
2010-02-10 08:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

FM TO SANDERSON: TSA LIST "POISON IN RELATIONS"

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER ECON KPAL KGHG SENV ML SU AG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAS #0115/01 0410803
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FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8410
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 1067
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 2004
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6824
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000115 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG - NARDI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ECON KPAL KGHG SENV ML SU AG
SUBJECT: FM TO SANDERSON: TSA LIST "POISON IN RELATIONS"

Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce. Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d)

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000115

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG - NARDI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ECON KPAL KGHG SENV ML SU AG
SUBJECT: FM TO SANDERSON: TSA LIST "POISON IN RELATIONS"

Classified By: Ambassador David D. Pearce. Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) In a meeting with visiting NEA DAS Sanderson January
25, Algerian Foreign Minister Medelci objected to TSA's
placing Algeria on a list with supporters of terrorism and
countries where U.S. troops were at war, arguing that this
was at variance with Algeria's solid commitment to fighting
terrorism and its close security partnership with the US. It
was a poison in our relations; the only acceptable solution
was to take Algeria off the list. He expressed concern over
Mali's failure to act against AQIM and said Algeria hoped to
get the Arab Maghreb Union to set up an economic community
and a trade and investment bank. In an upcoming African
summit, Algeria would seek a resolution in favor of the
Copenhagen accord on climate change. On regional conflicts,
he thought Sudan was at a crossroads where its leaders were
leaning towards reconciliation, whereas Somalia now needed
international help from outside the continent to solve its
conflict. He expressed support for US Middle East peace
efforts and said that "guarantees" from the major powers
could help restart negotiations. DAS Sanderson expressed
appreciation for Algeria's support for the Palestinian
Authority. DAS Sanderson emphasized that the US valued its
counterterrorism cooperation with Algeria and said the TSA
measures were not directed against Algeria or any country but
at countering a new threat to aviation security. End summary


Air Security
--------------


2. (C) Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci welcomed NEA
Deputy Assistant Secretary Janet Sanderson to a meeting at
the Foreign Ministry January 25. He was accompanied by MFA
Americas Department Director General Sabri Boukadoum, MFA
Director General for Protocol Fouad Bouattoura, and another
aide. The Ambassador, Pol-Econ Chief Bosshart (notetaker)

and Pol-Econ officer Wazir accompanied the DAS Sanderson.
Medelci recalled that he had had very good meetings in
Washington the previous month with the Secretary and others
and had discussed a balanced agenda, including economic
development and cooperation against terrorism. He said
Algeria had a true friend in the US, which Algeria trusted.
There was now a new "spirit" between our two countries,


3. (C) Medelci then pointed to a "fly in the soup," the TSA
listing of Algeria among the countries whose citizens
required enhanced screening at US airports. This decision
was a blow to relations between our governments that was seen
very negatively by the public. Even Algeria's security
professionals were baffled by the move. Medelci said the
listing was at odds with President Obama's Cairo speech
calling for more solidarity between the West and the Muslim
world. This discriminatory act by the US undermined Algerian
confidence in the US.


4. (C) DAS Sanderson recalled that the Secretary and NEA A/S
Feltman had explained the U.S. position on this sensitive
issue: this was a response to an attempt to bring down an
airliner. The decision was under continuous review and would
evolve as the threat did. We could not make a commitment to
any concrete change but would take into account Algeria's
point of view. These measures in no way reflected USG
appreciation of our two countries' vital cooperation.

"Poison in our Relations"
--------------


5. (C) Medelci was unmoved. He condemned the TSA measures as
inconsistent with the improved spirit of cooperation in our
relations and unjustified by the actual level of Algeria's
security efforts. Algeria had taken all necessary measures
to ensure the security of its territory and its airports and
should not have been put on this list, which was
discriminatory. He called it a "poison" in our relations.
Medelci acknowledged Sanderson's statement that the policy
was under continual review. And while he obviously
understood that Sanderson's visit was intended to recognize
and assuage Algerian concerns about the TSA listing, he
nevertheless pointedly told her that she had come on a
mission impossible. What Algeria wanted, he said, was to be
off the list, no more, no less. The minister said the US had
had special measures in place for years, so why announce a
list of 14 countries? This was what was upsetting - and
what, he asked, is the value-added in terms of control,
operationally? This too needs to be explained to public
opinion.

"If No Progress, We Will be Forced to Respond"
--------------


6. (C) Medelci said the Algerian position could not simply be
declaratory. If things don't progress, he said, "we will be
forced to respond." The FM said the GOA had been trying to
do the maximum with the US, but all of this could be
affected, including our strategy against terrorism. It did
not want this fly in the soup to cause the loss of all the
rest. The minister said it was especially galling to Algeria
that the US had joined France as the only two countries
implementing harsher security measures specifically against
Algerians, France being a country with which Algeria had many
"unhealed wounds." (Note: The French Ambassador told DAS
Sanderson the same morning that France's enhanced security
measures, requiring passenger data to be passed to France
prior to any flight's departure, had been in effect since
February 2009. End note) Medelci concluded by wondering why
the US had publicized the list of 14 countries when it
already had strict airport security.


7. (C) DAS Sanderson said the new US procedures should not be
seen as reflecting in any way on either the cooperation
between our two countries or the value that we placed on it.
The President had taken this difficult decision based on a
grave and immediate threat. It was not meant to embarrass or
humiliate countries, or to single anyone out, but to plug a
gap in air security. We were well aware of the distress this
caused to partner countries. Our intent, however, was to
protect travelers of all countries. We anticipated making
adjustments as the threat - and our assessment of it -
evolved. The Secretary was sensitive to the impact of this
decision on our relations. USG counterterrorism cooperation
with Algeria was critically important.

Sahel Security, Arab Maghreb Union
--------------


8. (C) Medelci declared that Algeria needed strong and
durable ties with the US. The GOA looked forward to the
upcoming Department of Commerce trade mission. Turning to
security in the Sahel, he said threats in that region had to
be managed, but he expressed concern that one country - Mali
- was not acting against the threat as it should. The
Secretary had spoken to him about the Arab Maghreb Union
(AMU). Medelci explained that, following a meeting of AMU
foreign ministers in Tripoli, Algeria was pursuing elements
of a common strategic project that went beyond a simple free
trade area. The first component was an AMU economic
community. An American consulting firm was drafting a study
of the concept. The second component was an AMU trade and
investment bank, which would be based in Tunis and have a
rotating directorship, with an Algerian being the first.
This bank would finance regional strategic projects. The
next meeting of AMU foreign ministers would take up these
proposals.

Morocco, African Conflicts, Middle East Peace
--------------


9. (C) Medelci acknowledged that Morocco was essential to
regional security. Algeria wished to continue
counterterrorism cooperation with its Moroccan brothers. The
two countries' security services were working together.
Medelci emphasized that Algeria was focused on Africa,
especially on development and resolution of regional
conflicts. Sudan was at a crossroads, with elections and an
Arab initiative spearheaded by Libya to convince the parties
to the Sudan conflict to reconcile. Sudan appeared to be
listening and to understand. The situation in Somalia was
less reassuring. Although African resources to resolve this
conflict had yet to be exhausted, the situation required
international contributions from outside the continent.
Medelci expressed appreciation for US efforts on behalf of
Middle East peace and hoped they would continue and be
successful, although he believed they needed a new
"technique" (which he did not articulate).

Copenhagen and Climate Change
--------------


10. (C) The FM also stated that an African summit would
consider the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change
Conference. Algeria wanted that summit to reach a common,
"comprehensive" position that would "take note" of the
Copenhagen outcome and suggest further steps leading to the
follow-up meeting in Mexico.


11. (C) DAS Sanderson recalled that she had reviewed AFRICOM
Commander Ward's Algeria visit with the general. The US and
Algeria had shared concerns about the Sahel and northern
Mali. The USG recognized that the terrorism problem was
regional and was ready to help with requested assistance. We
hoped that the long awaited regional summit to discuss
security in Bamako would take place. We should continue to
exchange notes on Somalia and Sudan. The US and others
recognized Algeria's efforts in the latter country. The Arab
Maghreb Union was an important effort in regional economic
cooperation and integration, which the US supported. The US
hoped that Maghreb countries could bring down obstacles
between them. DAS Sanderson expressed satisfaction that
Algeria and Morocco were cooperating on counterterrorism. On
the Middle East, A/S Feltman had appreciated Algerian
engagement and particularly its support for the Palestinian
Authority. Medelci concluded the meeting by hoping that
negotiations would resume, a step that "international
guarantees" would facilitate.


12. (U) Ambassador Sanderson cleared this message.
PEARCE