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DE RUEHAS #0115/01 0410803
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O 100803Z FEB 10
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 
------- 
 
¶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