US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS1956

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001956 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR NEA A/S WELCH; NEA/MAG; NEA/SA/EX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, AG 
SUBJECT: ALGERIA TO CONTRIBUTE $5 MILLION TO KATRINA RELIEF 
FUND 
 
 
1. (SBU) MFA SYG Lamamra told Ambassador, during telephone 
discussion of other issues late September 21, that Algeria 
would shortly be contributing $5 million to the relief funds 
for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Lamamra said it was the 
President's intention to inform the U.S. of this contribution 
during Foreign Minister Bedjoui's meeting today with NEA 
Assistant Secretary David Welch.  This contribution would not 
be announced or publicized in Algeria, he said. 
 
2. (SBU) Ambassador thanked Lamara for this generous gesture 
reflecting both our common humanity in the midst of suffering 
and Algerian-U.S. friendship.  Asked if the GOA would prefer 
Ambassador not express our thanks publicly for Algeria's 
contribution, Lamamra confirmed they preferred the Ambassador 
not comment publicly. 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (SBU) Lamamra did not ask that the contribution be 
considered confidential, only that it not be publicized or 
announced in Algeria.  Therefore, while not announcing the 
contribution specifically, we believe there should be no 
problem in our including the Algerian donation on public 
lists of contributions from around the world. 
 
ERDMAN