Cablegate: Algeria and the President's Announcement On

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O 021618Z DEC 09
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8184
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TAGS: PREL PTER MARR MOPS AF PK AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIA AND THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

REF: STATE 122731

1. (SBU) Charge discussed reftel points with Algerian MFA
Director General for the Americas, Sabri Boukhadoum on
December 1. Charge said we wanted to preview the President's
speech because Algeria is a close partner in security matters
and in light of Foreign Minister Medelci's upcoming visit to
Washington. Boukhadoum expressed appreciation for the
preview of this important U.S. foreign policy announcement.
He commented that although Afghanistan and Pakistan were far
removed from North Africa, Algeria and its President followed
events there closely: Algeria continued to confront first
hand Algerians who had fought in Afghanistan and then
returned as radicals. Partly to reduce this continuing
phenomenon, Boukhadoum said that Algeria hopes that the U.S.
commitment in Afghanistan will not be open-ended, as
President Obama has promised. He stressed the value of
U.S.-Algerian cooperation on terrorism and, speaking as a
newcomer to his position, said we should expand our overall
relationship to the point where we are allies in all but
name.

JORDAN

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