US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS2162

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 002162 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, KAWC, AG, Guantanamo Detainees 
SUBJECT: INFORMATION PASSED TO GOA ON TRANSFER AND RELEASE 
OF ALGERIAN NATIONALS FROM GUANTANAMO 
 
REF: STATE 195500 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by PolEc Chief, delivered 
reftel talking points October 24 to MFA Director General for 
the Americas Fatiha Selmane.  Ambassador also passed the 
proposed diplomatic notes that would be required in advance 
of the transfer of Algerian detainees from U.S. to Algerian 
control. Separately, PolEc Chief met October 24 with MFA 
Director General for Consular Affairs Hassene Rabehi and 
October 25 with Consular to the President Mohamed Kamel Rezag 
Bara.  During those meetings, PolEc Chief passed the 
information contained reftel on litigation status, hunger 
strikes, a proposed visit to Guantanamo, location of 
detainees, and the release of the non-enemy combatant. 
 
2.  (C) Both Rezag Bara and Rabehi thanked PolEc Chief for 
the information and said interagency GOA discussions were 
ongoing on repatriating Algerian detainees from Guantanamo. 
Rezag Bara said it was important to take matters one step at 
a time and, speaking personally, thought a GOA visit to 
Guantanamo December 1-2 was the next logical step.  He did 
not, however, exclude the possibility that the GOA would 
arrive at a position on repatriations before that time.  He 
acknowledged that the U.S. required no assurances from the 
GOA, via diplomatic note or otherwise, prior to the release 
of Fethi Boucetta, but he was unsure when the GOA would agree 
to repatriate him. 
 
3.  (C) In his meeting with Selmane, Ambassador drew her 
attention to PolEc Chief's earlier meeting with Rabehi and 
explained the U.S. required assurances from the GOA via an 
exchange of diplomatic notes before the two Algerian 
nationals approved for transfer from Guantanamo could be 
repatriated.  Ambassador emphasized that Algerian law would 
govern, and U.S. control would cease, after the transfer. 
Ambassador stressed that assurances of humane treatment and 
possible access in the future for intelligence purposes were 
also key requirements.  Ambassador passed Selmane the 
proposed diplomatic notes, in English and French, that the 
Governments of the U.S. and Algeria would exchange in advance 
of the transfers.  Selmane said in response that this matter 
was being worked in an interagency process.  She pledged to 
coordinate with Rabehi and inform the Embassy of the GOA 
reaction to the proposed exchange of notes once the texts of 
the notes had been studied.  Ambassador thanked Selmane for 
her help. 
 
ERDMAN