VZCZCXRO3852
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DE RUEHC #3844/01 2982042
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 242037Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 2062
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 5925
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 1194
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 3717
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 9852
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 113844 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018 
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN PREL PGOV MASS MOPS
CVIS, ML, AG 
SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Meeting with 
Algerian Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense 
Senhadji 
 
Classified by NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gene A. 
Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) October 22, 2008; 11:30 am; Washington, DC. 
 
¶2.  (C) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
Deputy Secretary Negroponte 
Ambassador David Pearce 
NEA DAS Gene Cretz 
Aaron Jost, D Special Assistant 
Jessica Patterson (NEA Notetaker) 
 
Algeria 
Major General Ahmed Senhadji, Secretary General of the 
Ministry of National Defense 
Ambassador Amine Kherbi 
Col. Benyakho Bendoukha, DATT 
DCM Djamel Moktefi 
Captain Abdelkrim Benouda, Assistant to the Secretary 
General 
 
¶3.  (C) SUMMARY.  In an October 22 meeting with Deputy 
Secretary Negroponte, Algerian Secretary General for the 
Ministry of National Defense praised the progress of 
U.S.-Algeria military cooperation.  He highlighted the 
ongoing threat of terrorism in the area, and requested 
more IMET funding.  Senhadji identified the occasional 
failure to secure U.S. visas for Algerian military 
officials as a significant impediment to military 
cooperation.  He questioned the commitment of Malian 
government officials to fight terrorism.  The Deputy 
Secretary reaffirmed the USG commitment to partner with 
Algeria in the fight against terrorism in the Maghreb. 
He also acknowledged the difficulties inherent in the 
U.S. visa process that affect Algerian and other foreign 
officials.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
Important Partnership 
--------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) MG Senhadji (the Algerian equivalent of the 
Deputy Secretary of Defense), in Washington for the 
third U.S.-Algeria Joint Military Dialogue (JMD), 
emphasized the importance to Algeria of "deep, loyal and 
long-term cooperation" with the USG to try to ensure 
security in the Maghreb region.  He noted that the 
initiative for the JMD was launched during a meeting of 
the U.S. and Algerian Presidents.  The Deputy Secretary 
observed that the USG and Algeria had been deepening our 
relationship, and thanked the Algerians for their 
efforts and success in stemming the tide of foreign 
fighters leaving Algeria for Iraq. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Algeria's Perspective on Transnational Terrorism 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5.  (C) Senhadji said that the threat Algeria faced from 
Islamic terrorists in the 1990's was a threat to its 
very existence, and that almost "every Algerian family 
has buried their own victim of terrorism."  Because of 
that, most of the population has rejected Islamic 
extremism.    However, a threat still exists, and 
terrorists have found a "favorable area" along Algeria's 
southern border, where they are involved in trafficking 
illicit goods and recruiting. He noted Algeria was 
always looking to increase counterterrorism cooperation 
with the United States, and hoped the United States 
understood that what might not be possible when 
requested today might be possible tomorrow.  The Deputy 
Secretary said he had followed the expansion of al-Qaida 
to the Maghreb as Director of National Intelligence.  He 
emphasized that we do not want to see North Africa 
become "the new battleground for global extremists," and 
that the USG is committed to working closely with the 
 
STATE 00113844  002 OF 002 
 
SUBJECT: Deputy Secretary Negroponte's Meeting with 
Algerian Secretary General of the Ministry of Defen 
GOA to resolve the issue.  Senhadji concurred with the 
Deputy Secretary's assessment that cooperation should 
continue not only on a bilateral U.S.-Algerian basis, 
but also on a regional basis. 
 
---- 
Mali 
---- 
 
¶6. (C) The Deputy Secretary requested Senhadji's view on 
counterterrorism cooperation with Mali.  Senhadji, 
clarifying that he was speaking as a military person 
rather than a diplomat, said the situation was of great 
concern.  He said some high level members of the Malian 
government "believe in the terrorist movement," making 
it difficult to know if any given interlocutor is 
committed to fighting terrorism.  It was hard to know 
who to trust.  The Deputy Secretary agreed that it was 
important to find reliable interlocutors and said he 
would look into the matter.  Senhadji and Kherbi later 
revised and/or extended these remarks by saying that 
some senior Mali officials sold arms to make money, 
without being concerned that they were going to 
terrorists.  He and Senhadji agreed the GOA would have 
to maintain a dialogue with the GOM as they are 
neighbors and need to work together on this issue. 
 
---------- 
Next Steps 
---------- 
 
¶7. (C) Senhadji praised the progress in the U.S.-Algeria 
dialogue, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises.  He 
characterized the talks as productive, and said that 
they showed a level of trust and cooperation 
unimaginable only three years ago.  He requested an 
expansion of IMET programs for Algeria, saying that 
training has the benefit of ensuring long-term 
capabilities and cooperation.  He also noted 
difficulties regarding joint exercises resulting from 
the Algerian military's difficultly in long term 
planning (because it was small) and changing U.S. plans 
due to heavy demands on U.S. forces.  The Deputy 
Secretary confirmed that we would review the level of 
USG training efforts in Algeria to determine the 
potential for expansion. 
 
--------------------- 
Problem Area -- Visas 
--------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Senhadji complained that, on a few occasions, 
Algerian military officials selected to participate in 
U.S.-based training, or, in one particular case, attend 
this JMD, have been "refused" visas.  (Note:  The visas 
in question were not refused, but delayed due to SAO 
processing.  End note.)  He said such instances both 
have an immediate effect on the activities the officials 
were traveling for but also has the political effect of 
putting a "shadow" on the relationship.  The Deputy 
Secretary expressed regret over the visa problems.  He 
acknowledged that it was "especially difficult when 
people who themselves have been fighting against 
terrorism" face obstacles in getting visas.  Senhadji 
expressed appreciation of the Deputy Secretary's 
understanding of the irony of the situation.  (Note:  At 
the JMD closing plenary, Senhadji shared, with great 
satisfaction, the Deputy Secretary's comment.  End 
note).  The Deputy Secretary said planning ahead would 
help minimize these problems. 
RICE