Viewing cable 10ALGIERS39, ALGERIAN FM: TSA LISTING “INTOLERABLE,
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this
WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10ALGIERS39.
VZCZCXRO6018
OO RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAS #0039/01 0121750
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 121750Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8323
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0078
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0448
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 1515
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 0476
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0013
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 0013
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 0247
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA IMMEDIATE 0265
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 0001
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA IMMEDIATE 0073
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN IMMEDIATE 0008
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 1463
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 0007
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE 0082
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 0002
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL IMMEDIATE 0001
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE 0003
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/TSA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA IMMEDIATE 0012
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0577
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ALGIERS 000039
SIPDIS
NOFORN
EO 12958 DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS PREL, PTER, PGOV, PINR, MOPS, AG, US
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN FM: TSA LISTING “INTOLERABLE,
INAPPROPRIATE, INOPPORTUNE”
REF: A. ALGIERS 20 (NOTAL) B. STATE 001187
ALGIERS 00000039 001.2 OF 004
Classified By: Ambassador David D Pearce; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
Summary
-------
¶1. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci January 11 summoned the
Ambassador and forcefully objected to Algeria’s placement on the TSA
enhanced screening list. He termed the decision intolerable, inappropriate,
and inopportune. It reflected neither the reality of Algeria’s security
situation, its counterterrorism efforts nor our close bilateral
cooperation. Further, the U.S. had not communicated the TSA decision to
Algeria prior to releasing it to the press, which was how the GOA had
learned of the measure. The GOA now had to contend with not only the
collective humiliation felt by domestic opinion but also incomplete and
inaccurate information regarding Algeria’s CT efforts circulating in the
international press as a result of the story. Medelci reinforced the
earlier MFA demarche (ref A) formally requesting removal from the list
and a high-level U.S. statement to help correct the record regarding
Algerian cooperation on counterterrorism. He pointedly asked the Ambassador
to communicate this message to the Secretary and said the GOA would be
monitoring the U.S. reaction closely. End Summary.
TSA Decision Ignores Reality of CT Cooperation
--------------------------------------------- -
¶2. (S/NF) Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci summoned
the Ambassador to the MFA January 11 to underscore Algeria’s
dissatisfaction with its placement on TSA’s enhanced screening list.
Medelci began by noting he had had a productive visit to Washington in
early December. He had been favorably impressed with both the quality
and level of his meetings and had appreciated their focus on bilateral
security and counterterrorism cooperation. The visit had underscored
the strategic importance of our countries’ counterterrorism partnership
on this sensitive issue. “We are confident in the direction this
cooperation is leading,” he remarked. “After my visit, I was eager to
report my discussions in Washington to President Bouteflika, meetings
which demonstrated that our relations have reached a new level.”
¶3. (S/NF) The discussions in Washington, he asserted, reflected the
reality of the relationship. Algeria’s own struggle against terrorism
and its contribution to defeat terrorists were well understood. It
remained determined to continue that cooperation and reinforce the
relationship with the U.S. “We are aware of the risks this threat poses.
We must remain vigilant and preserve the progress that has been made,”
Medelci said. The progress that both sides have made on the ground
underscores the confidence and openness of the strategic partnership.
¶4. (S/NF) Therefore, the minister said, the GOA had been extremely
disappointed with Algeria’s inclusion in the TSA list, as well as the
press coverage the decision had generated. The decision was intolerable,
inappropriate, and inopportune. It was a contradiction not only to
Algeria’s
ALGIERS 00000039 002.2 OF 004
own progress on security and efforts to fight terrorism, but also to
our countries’ counterterrorism cooperation. No attacks against the U.S.
had been “signed” by an Algerian. Algeria had made major progress in
recent years on its internal security. The domestic security environment
had been stabilized, airports were secure, and Algeria was now an
international partner in the fight against terrorism. TSA’s announcement
had made no mention of any of this.
Measures Viewed as Discriminatory
---------------------------------
¶5. (S/NF) This was not just a matter of Algeria’s inclusion on the list,
Medelci said. The GOA protested the discriminatory nature of the whole
list. Thirteen of the 14 countries listed were Muslim. This sent a
message that was inconsistent with President Obama’s Cairo speech, and
the administration’s stated policy of outreach to Muslim communities.
The decision will likely give further impetus to those who already
question the sincerity of the administration’s approach.
¶6. (S/NF) The GOA was also disappointed, Medelci continued, that the
decision had not been communicated prior to its release and that the
Algerian leadership had to learn of it via the media. The minister
said the GOA had initially refrained from making a public statement
out of concern for U.S. relations, but now, due to the extensive press
play and sense of collective humiliation among the public, it felt it
needed to respond.
U.S. Focus on Air Travel Safety
-------------------------------
¶7. (S/NF) The Ambassador said the intention behind the TSA measures
was not to harm or discriminate against any group or country, least
of all our friends and partners. The intention was to make air travel
as safe as possible for all. The problem was that, on Christmas day,
a terrorist had gotten through the system. President Obama had reacted
immediately, ordering reviews of both our watch list system and our air
passenger screening measures. He had also made clear that our approach
would not be static but would evolve as our evaluation of the risk
evolved. Algeria’s concerns would be reported in full; Washington had
already heard the message from Ambassador Baali. The Ambassador added
that the U.S. understood well Algeria’s difficult history with
terrorism and appreciated its leadership in the international fight
against extremist violence. The U.S. wanted to continue, and build on,
our very important counterterrorism cooperation as well as our new
partnerships in other areas, including military relations, law
enforcement, and economic and trade cooperation.
Going Forward
-------------
¶8. (S/NF) Medelci said the GOA shared the desire to continue building
our bilateral relationship. He reconfirmed GOA approval for a recent
U.S. request to allow overflights of EP-3E surveillance aircraft.
He also welcomed the visit of U.S. Attorney General Holder to conclude
work on a mutual legal assistance treaty. The minister underscored as
well the GOA’s readiness to assist with the upcoming Department of
ALGIERS 00000039 003.2 OF 004
Commerce trade mission to Algeria in February and offered to meet with
the head of the U.S. delegation, schedule permitting. At the same time,
he asked that the Ambassador convey his message on Algeria’s concerns
about the TSA measures to Secretary Clinton. The GOA shared the U.S.
desire to continue building the bilateral relationship. But it would
also be watching closely to see how the U.S. responds to its stated
concerns and looking forward to an “equitable solution”.
GOA Statement
-------------
¶10. (U) Below is Embassy’s informal translation of the statement
issued January 11 by the Algerian MFA:
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mourad Medelci, summoned Monday the
Ambassador of the United States of America in Algiers to express the
Algerian government’s strong protest over the decision taken by U.S.
authorities to include Algerian nationals on a list of countries
whose nationals are subjected to specific control measures when
arriving and departing U.S. airports:
“In the wake of the decision taken by the U.S. authorities to include
Algerian nationals on a list of countries whose nationals will be
subjected to specific control measures when arriving and departing
U.S. airports, Foreign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelci summoned
the Ambassador of the United States of America in Algiers to
express the Algerian government’s strong protests over the unfortunate,
unjustified, and discriminatory measure.
“This comes after several previous efforts that were deployed, once
the TSA measures were known, by the central government and by our
Ambassador in Washington with the relevant U.S. authorities.”
END INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF GOA STATEMENT.
COMMENT
-------
¶11. (S/NF) The past year has seen developments in important new areas
of government-to-government cooperation. These include:
-- Approval for visits by senior Department of Defense visitors, including
Deputy Assistant Secretary Huddleston and the first by AFRICOM Commander
General Ward. These have significantly improved the substance of our
mil-mil engagement.
-- Prompt agreement to allow U.S. military overflights for surveillance
aircraft against AQIM targets in the Sahel.
-- Repatriation of eight Algerian Guantanamo detainees since 2008 and
agreement to cooperate on the return of the remaining Algerian detainees.
-- Bilateral cooperation on judicial matters; a mutual legal assistance
treaty and a customs agreement are both ready for signature.
ALGIERS 00000039 004.2 OF 004
-- Cooperation with our new legatt office, including on a cybercrime
investigation that will protect American citizens from hackers and
identity thieves.
-- Improved police contacts and access for RSO, which plans to launch
an anti-terrorism assistance program this year.
¶12. (S/NF) On the commercial side, the U.S. exported about USD 400 million
in oil field equipment and services to Algeria in 2008 and imported USD
19 billion worth of Algerian oil and natural gas. And our commercial
interests are rapidly expanding beyond the hydrocarbons sector. Algeria
signed two contracts, totaling USD 847 million, in December 2009, to
purchase 11 Boeing aircraft. These were presidential decisions, made in
the face of heavy French pressure for Airbus. A U.S. firm, Solar Turbines,
concluded a USD 320-million contract in October 2009 with Algeria’s
state electricity company to supply gas-fired turbines. U.S. companies
are also competing for politically sensitive security contracts. Cogent,
a U.S. biometrics company, is close to signing a USD 45-million deal to
supply the Ministry of Interior with an automated fingerprint
identification system but faces heavy competition from France. Harris
Radio is bidding on a contract with a potential value of USD 500 million
to manufacture and supply radios for Algeria’s defense ministry and
signals corps. The Harris and Cogent contracts have significant
implications for U.S. commercial and security interests.
¶13. (S/NF) It is noteworthy that Medelci began and ended this
conversation by stressing the importance the Algerian leadership
attaches to continuing bilateral cooperation, especially on
counterterrorism. But in-between, however, he delivered an unmistakable
message that the GOA feels the TSA moves are inconsistent with that
relationship and that they will be watching closely to see how we
respond to this demarche. Over the past year, we have had a green light
to develop important new ties across the board, from military to law
enforcement. That light has now turned yellow. PEARCE
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário