(U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON SAID BOUTEFLIKA

S E C R E T STATE 005902 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2035 TAGS: PINR PGOV AG FR SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON SAID BOUTEFLIKA (C-ME9-02723) REF: PARIS 001704 Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR RECENT BIOGRAPHICAL REPORTING ON SAID BOUTEFLIKA, BROTHER OF ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA. EMBASSY PARIS'S CABLE WAS TIMELY, COMPREHENSIVE, AND WILL BE EXTREMELY USEFUL IN FINISHED PRODUCTS ON THE OTHERWISE OPAQUE ALGERIAN SUCCESSION QUESTION, AS WELL AS ON BOUTEFLIKA HIMSELF. THE INFORMATION WAS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE GIVEN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S INSIGHTS INTO ALGERIAN POLITICS. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, WE WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS THAT EMBASSY PARIS MAY OBTAIN IN FUTURE CONVERSATIONS WITH FRENCH OFFICIALS REGARDING THE ALGERIAN SUCCESSION ISSUE. AGAIN, KUDOS TO EMBASSY PARIS FOR ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE SO WELL. ¶2. (S/NF) ANALYSTS RELY HEAVILY ON REPORTING FROM POSTS FOR DETAILS ON PEOPLE, PERSONAL TRAITS, HEALTH, AND RELATIONSHIPS IN DRAFTING BIOGRAPHIC REPORTS AND POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS FOR SENIOR WASHINGTON POLICYMAKERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED REPORTING, ESPECIALLY ON THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS ON ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA'S HEALTH, SAID BOUTEFLIKA AND OTHER CONTENDERS FOR POWER--SUCH AS PRIME MINISTER AHMED OUYAHIA AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER ABDELAZIZ BELKHADEM--AND SUCCESSION POLITICS AND STABILITY IN GENERAL. CLINTON