The U.S. and Algeria

Released by the U.S. Embassy, Algiers

Assistant Secretary Welch: I will make a brief statement and you may ask any question you wish.

I’m very happy to be here in Algiers today. It’s my second time to visit Algeria but my first visit to Algiers as the Assistant Secretary responsible for the Middle East [that] includes North Africa as well as the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. I was honored today to have excellent meetings with the President, President Bouteflika; with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Ouyahia; with, just now we finished, with the Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Bedjaoui; and I had a very nice lunch hosted by my colleagues at the Foreign Ministry led by Ambassador Lamamra, former Ambassador to Washington. Relations between the United States and Algeria have developed very rapidly and very broadly. We have a real and sophisticated partnership. I had the chance to review not only our bilateral relations but also all the issues of concern. This includes Israeli-Palestinian relations, especially after the elections in the Palestinian territories. We also discussed the situation in Iraq; the situation in Sudan, especially Darfur; the developments concerning the Iranian file; and closer to home here in Algiers the issue of Western Sahara. As is always the case, in a mature and confident relationship, there are many areas in which we agreed and there are some areas where we may have different views. I also had the chance in the meeting with his Excellency the Foreign Minster to suggest that he find the time to visit Washington in the very near future to continue to discuss all the issues of concern between the United States and Algeria. Thank you very much. I’ll take any questions you have.

Journalist (as translated): So recently Algeria, after the visit of the Russian leader, had an agreement with Russia about debt forgiveness and about arms sales. What is the opinion of the Americans about arms sales and about the debt forgiveness?

Assistant Secretary Welch: Are you asking for my comment on Russia and Algeria or for Algeria and the U.S.?

Translator: He is asking for your comment about the sales, arms sales contracts between Algeria and Russia.

Assistant Secretary Welch: Well, you know the relations between Algeria and Russia or, sir, Algeria and any other country are a matter for Algeria to decide and not for the United States to decide. Today, we did not discuss this subject. I did ask my Algerian friends about the results of the visit of President Putin in order to be able to compare views with respect to regional issues. Now, should Algeria approach the United States to ask about the possibility of increasing military cooperation, including arms sales, that’s a matter that we would examine on its merits.

Translator: Can you give them more details about what you said on the merits?

Assistant Secretary Welch: Well, for example we would look at what the request is and we would examine it on a case-by-case basis. We have not been asked anything specific, but if we are asked we will treat the request with respect and decide what it means.

Journalist (as translated): It’s El Moudjahid, it’s the official newspaper. The cooperation between Algeria and the United States is important and especially in counter-terrorism and the best proof of it is that the many visits that we have had here of high officials from the United States, so there is on the one side the counter-terrorism and the common fight that we are waging against terror and then the Charter that has been recently adopted in Algeria. It’s the Charter about National Reconciliation. One of the outcomes of the Charter being implemented is that hundreds of prisoners, former terrorists, will be freed, so what do you think about this? What do you think? What is your point of view about this, the fact that terrorists are being freed since we are implementing the Charter? And what is the point of view of the American leadership?

Assistant Secretary Welch: First of all let me say that in this field, Algeria and the United States are cooperating very closely. We believe that the first obligation of any government is to protect its own citizens and we enjoy good cooperation with the government of Algeria to counter the threat of terrorism wherever it is. When I first visited Algiers it was at the beginning of a time in which you went through a lot of difficulties. It’s now very apparent, sir, to any visitor that you have emerged from that long period of difficulty. There is a dialogue among Algerians about the events of the past and what to do. This is a matter for Algerians to decide. Many times these are not easy decisions; they are very, very difficult ones for the people concerned. I respect the decisions of the Algerian government and the Algerian people and I want to be careful not to suggest to you, sir, that the United States government has any role in this decision directly. We believe it’s a matter that you, Algerians, must work out for yourselves. But I would like to say that we are encouraged by the progress that has been made. We believe that the government here does have a commitment to reform more broadly and, in general, we encourage that spirit. Thank you.

Journalist (as translated): You just mentioned that you have dealt with the Western Sahara question when you met the Algerian leaders. I would like to know if the United States [is] still supporting the Baker plan to settle the Western Sahara issue.

Assistant Secretary Welch: This subject was discussed in all my meetings. I believe it’s important to listen to the Algerian viewpoint on this issue. As you know, this matter has been discussed in the United Nations. Last year, I visited Morocco and I had the chance to listen to their views. I’ve also met with the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ambassador Van Walsum; and of course, as a permanent member of the Security Council, the United States is constantly attentive to this issue. We tried in the past to support all international efforts to resolve this matter in the context of the UN resolutions. We believe that it is important for the security and the stability of the area to reach a solution.

Assistant Secretary Welch: I can take one more question and then I think I must go.

Journalist (as translated): Earlier in your statements you said you agreed on some points and you may differ on other points when you were talking with the Algerians. So can you just mention one point where there is no agreement -- just one matter?

Assistant Secretary Welch: Well, it’s a good question. Look, with any government that is a friend we may have many things we agree on and we may have things we disagree on. It’s natural. I can give you some examples. We may agree that we do not want to see the proliferation of nuclear weapons, especially into the hands of a country like Iran. But we may disagree and vote differently in the International Atomic Energy Agency vote. This is an example that was discussed today, but the spirit is not to reflect about what we disagree on, but instead to try and understand what is the path forward. And today we discussed what in our judgment is the most appropriate way forward. In our judgment this means that Iran must accept its obligations as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and with respect to its obligations to the IAEA . And we agreed with the Algerian side that the best way to do that is for a diplomatic solution. But we also agreed that we must not see a situation where there is proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Thank you very much. I promise next time I come back to Algiers we’ll take more time.