US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS839

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000839 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MASS, AG, Status Of Force Agreement (SOFA) 
SUBJECT: MG SENHADJI SEES JOINT MILITARY DIALOGUE AS STEP 
TOWARD EXPANDED COOPERATION 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman; reasons 1.4 (B)(D) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (C) MOD Secretary General Senhadji discussed with 
Ambassador April 25 the upcoming Joint Military Dialogue 
talks in Washington (May 10-11), expressing appreciation for 
the excellent program that has been arranged and exchanging 
views on what to expect from these talks.  He agreed with 
Ambassador that the most important concrete outcome would be 
the launching of a mechanism that would promote a regular 
high-level military dialogue and create a framework and 
foundation for expanding military cooperation.  Ambassador 
advised that the U.S. side, among other things, would almost 
certainly want to discuss issues such as SOFA arrangements 
and end-use monitoring, since finding a way forward in these 
areas would be essential for the growth of our military 
relationship.  Senhadji said Algeria had no problems with 
end-use assurances, only intrusive monitoring, especially at 
unit levels; emphasized Algeria's commitment to military 
modernization and professionalization; said Algeria sought 
regional stability and saw the stability of Morocco and the 
throne as an important Algerian interest; and expressed 
interest in developing a military-to-military intelligence 
exchange. 
(End Summary) 
 
JMD WILL ESTABLISH FRAMEWORK AND 
FOUNDATION FOR EXPANDING COOPERATION 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) Ambassador and DATT met with MOD Secretary General MG 
Senhadji April 25, at latter's request, to discuss his trip 
to Washington for the May 10-11 Joint Military Dialogue 
(JMD)and related meetings.  Senhadji, as usual when acting in 
his MOD capacity, was dressed in civilian attire, and was 
accompanied by his Exec officer, Col. Benmousset.  Senhadji 
asked what we envisioned as the outcome of the JMD.  Would 
there be a declaration of general principles, specific 
agreements on expanded cooperation, concrete results or 
simply dialogue?  Ambassador said the concrete and important 
outcome we sought would be the establishment of a permanent 
mechanism for a regular, high-level dialogue.  Such a 
dialogue would allow our senior officials to get to know one 
another better, create a framework and foundation for 
mutually beneficial expanded military cooperation, and 
identify how we might move forward in this area.   In this 
regard, the JMD would provide a useful opportunity to 
exchange views on such issues as arms sales, exercises, 
training, and information exchanges. 
 
SENHADJI APPRECIATIVE OF EXCELLENT 
PROGRAM AND HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS 
---------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Ambassador walked Senhadji through the highlights of 
the program, noting that he was being received at very high 
levels and that this was an excellent opportunity to project 
a positive image for Algeria, its commitment to the war 
against terrorism, and the Algerian military's commitment to 
professionalization and respect for the rights of Algerian 
citizens.  Senhadji expressed appreciation for the excellent 
program that had been arranged and said he looked forward to 
his visit and discussions.  He agreed the JMD would be an 
important step in building a foundation for expanding 
cooperation.  In response to Ambassador's counsel that he be 
as frank in acknowledging past human rights problems as in 
presenting the positive evolution of the Algerian military in 
Algeria's emerging democracy, Senhadji said he expected the 
MJD to be a frank and productive exchange of ideas leading to 
greater engagement between our two countries. 
 
WORKING OUT PROBLEMS OF SOFA AND END-USE 
MONITORING ESSENTIAL TO EXPANDED COOPERATION 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Ambassador advised Senhadji that the U.S. side would 
almost certainly want to discuss the issue of SOFA 
arrangements.  We knew Algeria had concerns in this area, but 
finding a way around the problems in this area would be 
important, if we were to develop the kind of relations and 
cooperation we had with other friendly countries.  SOFAs were 
routine and normal between the U.S. and its partners, noting 
that in this regard he had just seen a press report 
indicating that even Russia had just worked out SOFA 
arrangements with NATO.  Similarly, resolving end-use 
monitoring issues would also be important if we were to be 
able to move forward.  Participation in the end-use 
monitoring program was for us a matter law and required for 
all countries, including our closest friends and allies, who 
sought to purchase sensitive U.S. military systems and 
equipment.  While we had some flexibility in how end-use 
monitoring could be carried out in practice, we did not/not 
have flexibility on the principle of end-use monitoring. 
This was simply the way we did business.  The many other 
countries with which we had military sales relationships have 
not had problems with end-use monitoring. 
 
5. (C) Senhadji responded that Algeria had no basic problem 
with end-use assurances since it was standard international 
practice that countries were obliged to certify that weapons 
systems would not be transferred to third parties.  What 
Algeria had problems with were the intrusive monitoring 
requirements, including inspections to ensure that equipment 
was in such and such a military unit.  Ambassador clarified 
(as we have in discussions with other Algerian senior 
military officials) that the monitoring was intended only to 
verify that a given piece of equipment was in country, not 
whether it was in a given military unit.  Ambassador said the 
JMD offered an excellent opportunity to clarify the end-use 
monitoring issue. 
 
ALGERIAN MILITARY MODERNIZATION AND 
PROFESSIONALIZATION WILL REINFORCE REGIONAL STABILITY 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
6. (C) Senhadji said arms procurement was another key issue 
for Algeria, which wanted to modernize and professionalize 
its military and to reinforce regional stability. 
Inter-operability of equipment, he said, was essential if 
Algeria was to participate in multilateral peacekeeping 
operations or other operations with regional partners.  The 
idea that a modernized Algerian military might pose a threat 
to regional security was totally incorrect.  Algeria was 
fully committed to regional stability and regarded the 
stability of Morocco and of the Moroccan throne as a central 
Algerian interest.  In this regard, he recalled that during 
two coup attempts against Hassan II, Algeria had offered 
refuge to the King. 
 
ALGERIA INTERESTED IN MIL-MIL INTEL EXCHANGE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) Senhadji also expressed interest in a 
military-military intelligence exchange agreement.  Asked 
what he had in mind, he said such an agreement could focus on 
three areas:  (1) education and training, (2) technology and 
equipment, and (3) exchange of military information.  The 
general specifically asked for an agreement with the DIA. 
Ambassador said this touched on the ongoing broader issue of 
reform of the Algerian intelligence services, since it was 
his understanding that, at the request of the Algerian side, 
all intelligence exchange took place in service-to-service 
channels. 
 
8. (C) Ambassador also noted that the U.S. Navy was 
interested in developing a naval intelligence exchange and 
that we had orally proposed this to Algeria.  Perhaps this 
was something that could be discussed at the JMD.  (COMMENT: 
In response to our oral proposal, the Algerians requested 
written clarification of what we were proposing. Sixth Fleet 
staff is currently working on a paper for the Algerians.) 
Senhadji was unaware of U.S. interest in a naval exchange 
and, in response to Ambassador's comments, insisted that the 
Algerian DRS (Department of Intelligence and Security) did 
not/not have a monopoly on intelligence and that the staff of 
the armed forces had its own bureau of military intelligence. 
 There was more to military intelligence than just 
counter-terrorism, he said, and a military-to-military 
intelligence exchange could open up opportunities to share a 
variety of information of mutual interest.  A 
military-to-military exchange agreement would be one more 
facet of military modernization in Algeria. 
 
 
ERDMAN