US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS868

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000868 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, AG 
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHY OF MOHAMED BEDJAOUI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, reasons 1.4(b)(d). 
 
1. (U) Following is a biographical summary of the Algeria's 
new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Bedjaoui, the former 
President of the Constitutional Council from May 2002 until 
the announcement of his new appointment on May 1: 
 
Mohamed Bedjaoui was born in Sidi-Bel Abbes (Algeria) on 
September 21, 1929.  He graduated from Grenoble University in 
France with a B.A. in law and following that worked as a 
lawyer at the Court of Grenoble from 1951 to 1953.  Bedjaoui 
subsequently received two doctoral degrees from the 
University of Grenoble in 1956, in law and political science. 
 In 1956 he also began working as a researcher at the French 
National Scientific Research Center (CNRS) in France. 
 
At the start of the Algerian revolution in 1956, the FLN 
appointed Bedjaoui to be their legal advisor, a position he 
commenced in France and took with him as he returned to 
Algeria in 1956.  He maintained that position within the 
Algerian Provisional Government from 1956 until independence 
was achieved in 1962 at the Evian negotiations, in which he 
took part.  Beginning in 1962, Bedjaoui began a long career 
as a distinguished Algerian official: Secretary General to 
the Government, an administrative position tracking legal 
developments (1962-1964); Minister of Justice (1964-1970); 
his diplomatic debut as Ambassador to France (1970-1979); 
permanent delegate to UNESCO (1971-1979); Ambassador to the 
U.N. and simultaneously President of the Group of 77 in New 
York (1979-1982). 
 
From 1979 to 1982, Bedjaoui also occupied the positions of 
Vice President of the U.N. Council for Namibia and President 
of the contact group for Cyprus.  Bedjaoui became 
Co-President of the inquiry commission for the release of 
American diplomats in Iran in 1980.  From 1982-1992, he was a 
judge at the International Court of the Hague and was 
appointed President of the Court 1993-1997.  Bedjaoui was the 
first judge from the Arab world to have such a high position 
at the Court. 
 
In 1999, President Lamine Zeroual appointed Bedjaoui to be 
the President of the National Commission for Presidential 
Elections. In 2002, he was appointed President of the 
Constitutional Council, in which capacity he oversaw the 
handling of the April 2004 presidential election in Algeria. 
 
Bedjaoui was awarded the Ordre de la Resistance d'Algerie, 
and has also been awarded the Ordre du Merite Alaouite de 
Royaume du Maroc, the Ordre de la Republique d'Egypte, and 
the Ordre National du Mali. 
 
Bedjaoui is the author of several publications and 300 
articles on law, including "La Revolution Algerienne et le 
Droit" (article, 1963); "Non-Alignement et Droit 
International (book, 1970); and "Traites et Conventions de 
l'Algerie" (compilation, 1963-4). 
 
2. (C) Initial domestic reactions among Embassy sources to 
Bedjaoui's appointment were overwhelmingly positive. 
Contacts called him a "heavy-weight of diplomacy."  Others 
said that he would bring a sense of "refinement and culture" 
to the MFA.  A former Algerian Ambassador said, "It's about 
time that the Algerian diplomatic establishment is headed by 
a real diplomat and not by a renegade from the FLN or the RND 
(Rassemblement National pour la Democratie)."  One 
parliamentarian did express reservations about appointing 
someone of Bedjaoui's elevated age.  Presidential Chief of 
Staff Belkheir told Ambassador May 2 that Bedjaoui had been 
selected because of his considerable international experience 
and the excellent image he will project for Algeria. 
 
3. (C) Comment: At age 76, Bedjaoui enjoys international 
stature and is well and favorably known to the Embassy.  He 
is also a great admirer of the United States and has a copy 
of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on his study wall. 
As a trusted and long-time friend of President Bouteflika 
from the pre-independence period and as an elder statesman 
with no political ambition, Bedjaoui will enjoy a close and 
non-threatening relationship with Bouteflika, who can be 
expected to use him to help project an image of competence, 
respectability, and moderation on the world scene.  Given his 
international experience, he will also likely project a more 
urbane -- or at least secular world view onto Algerian 
foreign affairs in contrast to his conservative Islamic 
nationalist predecessor, outgoing FM Belkhedem. 
ERDMAN