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P 300904Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3722
INFO RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0179
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1634
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 8581
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2211
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1785
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 6627
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 2987

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000747 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2017 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM INRB AG
SUBJECT: FLN LOYALIST SELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL 
PARLIAMENT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford, reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
¶1. (U) PM Abdelaziz Belkhadem announced May 28 that the 
National Liberation Front (FLN), National Rally for Democracy 
(RND), and Movement for a Society at Peace (MSP) had agreed 
to support FLN MP-elect Abdelaziz Ziari in the balloting for 
president of the national assembly.  MSP leader Bouguerra 
Soltani and RND head Ahmed Ouyahia stood beside PM Belkhadem 
during the announcement, which occurred after a meeting of 
the three heads of the presidential coalition parties.  Given 
the absolute majority the coalition enjoys in parliament, 
Ziari is expected to be elected on the first ballot and 
installed, along with other parliamentarians, May 31. 
 
¶2. (C) Ziari headed the FLN party list for Algiers and is 
considered an FLN loyalist.  Reputed as very moderate and 
reasonable, political party contacts said he is widely 
respected as being fair-minded.  RND outgoing MP Noureddine 
Benbrahim and re-elected MP Abdelrezzak Makri of MSP told us 
May 28 their party leadership ultimately agreed to support 
his candidacy in exchange for better representation in the 
new cabinet, when eventually formed.  Following the May 17 
parliamentary elections, it was widely expected that 
parliament would be installed May 20.  As that date 
approached, however, MSP increasingly declared publicly that 
the presidency of the parliament should not automatically go 
to the FLN.  MSP reasoned that the FLN, albeit the party with 
the most seats in parliament, nonetheless was the only 
coalition party to lose seats in the elections.  Abdelouahab 
Abdelhalim, youth director for MSP and a newly elected 
parliamentarian, told PolEc Chief May 22 that FLN had wanted 
to install former Algerian Ambassador to Mali Abdelkrim 
Gheraib as parliamentary president May 20, but opposition 
from RND and MSP led to a proliferation of candidates for the 
post, and Belkhadem decided to postpone the opening of 
parliament until the end of the month so that there would be 
sufficient time to come to agreement. 
 
COOPERATION WITH U.S. LIKELY TO CONTINUE 
----------- ---- ----------- ----------- 
 
¶3. (C) Two members of parliament's professional staff told us 
May 28 that Ziari may bring his current staff with him to 
parliament.  Given Ziari's reputation for moderation and 
bridge-building, these same contacts tell us it is likely 
that the parliament's current director for external 
relations, Boualim Tatah, will retain his current position. 
(Tatah coordinates on behalf of parliament with the National 
Conference of State Legislatures on its MEPI grant.)  Even if 
Tatah is replaced, Benbrahim expected Ziari would want to 
support parliament's ongoing cooperation with the United 
States.  (Comment:  we will seek an appointment with the 
future parliament president, and with some other prominent 
parliamentarians, to determine whether or not we think 
continuing the program would be worthwhile.  End Comment.) 
 
BIO NOTE 
-------- 
 
¶4. (U) Ziari has served in the government since May 2005 as 
the minister of relations with parliament.  He was a 
counselor to President Bouteflika from May 2003 to April 2004 
and took up the post of minister for youth and sports from 
April 2004 until May 2005.  Ziari has foreign affairs 
experience dating from his December 1999 to April 2002 
posting as minister delegate at MFA in charge of the national 
community abroad and regional cooperation.  In the early 
1990s, he also served as labor minister.  Born August 28, 
1945 in Constantine, he obtained a university degree in 
mathematics in 1962 and undertook the study of medicine.  A 
physician, he was first elected to parliament as a member of 
the FLN in 1977.  Ziari is married and has two children. 
 
FORD