59. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Algeria1

122874. Subject: Message to President Boumediene From President Carter.

1. Please deliver the following message from President Carter to President Boumediene.

2. Quote. Dear Mr. President:

I want to take this opportunity to establish a direct personal dialogue with you on matters of mutual interest to Algeria and the United States. The views and positions of your government are of major importance on many world issues and the development of a close relationship between Algeria and the United States is a matter of great interest to me.

3. Since coming to office in January, I have been extremely pleased to see the growing cooperation between our two countries in a variety of fields. I am most appreciative for the opportunity which you accorded Under Secretary of State Habib to meet with you for such a thorough exchange of views when he visited Algiers in April.2 We are looking forward to the arrival of Ambassador Maoui, whose presence in Washington will greatly facilitate communication, as will the presence in Algiers of Ambassador Haynes, whom I have named to replace Ambassador Parker.

4. Under Secretary Habib discussed the Middle East situation with you in detail when he was in Algiers. I wish to underscore the commitment of the United States to the search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We will continue to work toward a reconvening of the Geneva Conference this year. As I have stated publicly, our policy will not be affected by changes in leadership in any of the countries in the Middle East. We expect Israel and her neighbors to continue to be bound by UN Resolutions 242 and 338 which they have previously accepted.3 To let the present propitious opportunity for a settlement pass could mean disaster for the Middle East and perhaps for interna[Page 159]tional political and economic order as well. You can be sure that I will personally devote my time and energy to the achievement of an Arab-Israeli peace agreement.

5. I would also like to share with you some thoughts on North-South relations, a subject of great importance to us both. I feel that it is especially important that the Conference on International Economic Cooperation show constructive results during the Ministerial meeting in Paris at the end of this month.4 In my view, the Ministerial meeting presents an opportunity to make progress on a number of important economic issues and also to establish a framework within which to continue our discussions on questions of mutual concern. Several questions require special attention. These include the transfer of resources, where it will hopefully be possible to reach agreement on the need for increased and more effective flows of foreign assistance, particularly to the low income countries; commodities, where we will be prepared to give new political momentum to the work in Geneva on individual commodities and a Common Fund;5and energy, where we must decide how best to continue the dialogue on global energy trends.

6. It is vitally important for the entire world community that there be a continuing dialogue on North-South matters. We will make every effort to assure that such a dialogue continues in a constructive and productive manner. Secretary of State Vance hopes to meet with Foreign Minister Bouteflika in Paris and this will afford an opportunity for an exchange of views. The members of our delegation in Paris also have been instructed to maintain close contact with their Algerian counterparts as the Ministerial meeting unfolds. I hope to hear from you directly on these and other matters of common concern.

7. For my part, I would be very gratified to have the opportunity to meet with you personally at an early date. I hope that you will be able to visit the United States at a mutually convenient time in the future so that I may have the opportunity of welcoming you to the White House. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter (signed Jimmy Carter, Best wishes J.C.) End quote.

Vance
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770189–0893. Confidential; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Drafted in the White House; cleared in S/S–O; approved by Atherton.
  2. See footnote 4, Document 57.
  3. UN Security Council Resolution 242, adopted unanimously on November 22, 1967, and UN Security Council Resolution 338, adopted unanimously on October 22, 1973, established principles and a framework for negotiations for an Arab-Israeli peace settlement. See Yearbook of the United Nations, 1967, pp. 257–258 and Yearbook of the United Nations, 1973, p. 213.
  4. The final Ministerial session of the CIEC was held in Paris May 30–June 3. See Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. III, Foreign Economic Policy, Document 265.
  5. The UN Negotiating Conference on the Common Fund held its first session in Geneva March 7–April 3.