US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1604

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, AG 
SUBJECT: NEW ALGERIAN MFA SECRETARY GENERAL BIO INFORMATION 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, 
reasons 1.4(b)(d). 
 
SUMMARY 
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 1. (C) On July 23, Ambassador Ramdane Lamamra was named as 
the new MFA Secretary General, replacing Hocine Maghlaoui. 
Lamamra began his career in 1976 and his notable tours 
include posts as Algerian Ambassador to the UN, Ambassador to 
the U.S. and most recently Ambassador to Portugal.  Lamamra 
appears to have close connections with the upper echelons of 
the GOA, including President Bouteflika, Prime Minister 
Ouyahia, and Foreign Minister Bedjaoui. 
 
LAMAMRA BACKGROUND 
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2. (U)  Lamamra was born on June 15, 1952 in Amizour, Bejaia, 
Algeria.  He graduated in 1976 from the Diplomatic Section, 
"Ecole Nationale d'Administration."  His varied career 
included diplomatic training at the Algerian Embassy in 
Moscow, Third Secretary in the MFA, Second Secretary in the 
MFA Legal and Counsular Department, United Nations Political 
Affairs desk officer, First Secretary and Counselor in charge 
of Legal Affairs at Algeria's Permanent Mission to the United 
Nations, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy 
Director for the United Nations and Disarmament Affairs, 
Director of the Press and Information Department and 
Spokesman of the MFA. 
 
3. (U) Lamamra has extensive United Nations experience. He 
served as a member of multiple Algerian delegations to the UN 
(1979-1990) and then Algeria's Permanent Representative to 
the UN (1993-1996).  Lamamra has also served as Algerian 
representative to many international organizations.  He was a 
member of the Algerian delegation to the Law of the Sea 
Conferences, Organization of African Unity, the Arab League, 
the Islamic Conference, OPEC, and head of delegations to OAU 
Ministerial Conferences. 
 
4. (U) His most recent posts of note have been Ambassador to 
the United States (1996-1999), Ambassador/Counselor at the 
MFA (2000-2003), and just prior to accepting the MFA 
Secretary General posting, Ambassador to Portugal.  Lamamra 
 
SIPDIS 
has also been Ambassador to Ethiopia (1989-1991) and Austria 
(1992-1993).  He speaks fluent Arabic, French and English. 
 
COMMENT 
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5. (C)  Lamamra left a very favorable impression during 
Ambassador's July 31 introductory call -- the Secretary 
General's first outside meeting following his installation 
the afternoon before.  He came across as quick, smart, 
pragmatic, and flexible, with little of the ideological 
baggage that weighs down some of his Old Guard colleagues in 
the Ministry.  Lamamra also came across as both familiar with 
and favorably inclined toward the U.S., having emphasized 
that it was "fitting" his first official meeting was with the 
U.S. ambassador and that he wanted to see visible signs of a 
U.S. investment presence -- like McDonalds -- along the 
streets of Algiers and other Algerian cities.  Lamamra is 
clearly close to FM Bedjaoui, is said by contacts to have 
personal ties with PM Ouyahia, and, judging by the fact that 
he accompanied President Bouteflika to his November 2001 
meeting with President Bush in Washington, has direct ties to 
Bouteflika as well.  These personal connections to the 
highest echelons of government should make Lamamra an 
interesting and authoritative interlocutor, and hopefully one 
who is open and confident enough to consider ideas and shape, 
rather than merely implement, policy. 
ERDMAN