US embassy cable - 05ALGIERS2309

S E C R E T ALGIERS 002309 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MOPS, PREL, AG, Pol-Mil 
SUBJECT: FOLLOW UP ON ASSURANCES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL 
PARTICIPATING IN EXERCISES 
 
REF: A. STATE 193543 
 
     B. ALGIERS 1877 
     C. ALGIERS 2225 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RICHARD W. ERDMAN, 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
(S) FOLLOWING A NOVEMBER 16 MEETING WITH MFA SECRETARY 
GENERAL LAMAMRA ON OTHER ISSUES, AMBASSADOR REMINDED LAMAMRA 
THAT THE EMBASSY HAD NOT RECEIVED A REACTION TO THE TEXTS 
PROPOSED BY THE U.S. FOR DIPLOMATIC NOTES (REF C) TO BE 
EXCHANGED IN ADVANCE OF MILITARY EXERCISES IN ALGERIA. 
AMBASSADOR REMINDED LAMAMRA THAT SUCH ASSURANCES WERE NEEDED 
IN ADVANCE OF PLANNED UPCOMING EXERCISES, ESPECIALLY THOSE 
INVOLVING U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT.  AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT 
THE ASSURANCES WERE NEEDED FOR LIABILITY REASONS IN THE EVENT 
THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT -- SUCH AS A PLANE CRASH -- DURING 
AN EXERCISE.  THE INTENT, STRESSED AMBASSADOR, WAS NOT TO 
DIMINISH ALGERIAN SOVEREIGNTY DURING SUCH EXERCISES.  LAMAMRA 
SAID BUREAUCRATIC PROCESSES IN THE INTERAGENCY HAD DELAYED 
THE GOA REPLY, BUT HE ASSURED AMBASSADOR THAT ALGERIA 
UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE THE U.S. ATTACHED TO SUCH 
ASSURANCES AND THAT A RESPONSE WAS IN COURSE. 
 
ERDMAN