Office of the Historian

123. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Veliotes) to Secretary of State Shultz1

Washington, January 18, 1983

SUBJECT

  • President Bendjedid’s Invitation to Visit Algeria

ISSUE FOR DECISION

How to respond to Algerian President Bendjedid’s invitation for you to visit Algeria.

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

During his December visit to Belgium, President Bendjedid drew aside our Ambassador to discuss with approval Commerce Secretary Baldrige’s recent Trade and Investment Mission to Algeria and to extend an invitation for you to visit Algeria “soon,” in the context of our mutual effort to improve relations. In your absence, Under Secretary Eagleburger sent an interim response through the Algerian Ambassador here, noting his own positive, personal reaction and the practical difficulties involved in scheduling your foreign travel.2

Bendjedid’s invitation does represent a political gesture of some significance. The Algerians had protested to us a series of US actions in November (our joint amphibious exercises with Morocco, a USN sail-through of Algerian-claimed territorial waters in routine demonstration of our right of innocent passage without prior notification, and our vote against the Algerian-sponsored UNGA resolution on the Western [Page 277] Sahara) that they consider inimical to GOA interests.3 We understand that the GOA had seriously considered cancelling the Baldrige visit, but that its success led Bendjedid to extend his invitation to you. Ambassador Newlin strongly recommends that you accept.4

While I believe that you should do so in principle, a visit in the immediate future would be premature. At your direction, we have begun an expanded political dialogue with the Algerians. Both Under Secretary Eagleburger and I have met with their Ambassador, and we have agreed with him on an agenda of issues for future discussion. We have not yet, however, had a sufficient number of exchanges to gauge the direction of the dialogue. A visit to Algiers at the Secretarial level might usefully come at a somewhat later time.

As an interim step, I recommend you send Under Secretary Eagleburger for a round of discussions with the Algerian leadership.5 This should be followed or preceded by a brief stop in Tunisia to defuse the concerns a visit to Algiers alone might cause in Rabat. (It could be done in three days.)

As hosts, the Algerians will have a degree of influence with PLO leaders, and it would be useful to have Eagleburger reinforce Algeria’s newly constructive approach to the peace process by following up Foreign Minister Ibrahimi’s participation in the Fez delegation.

RECOMMENDATION

That you initial the cable at Tab 1,6 conveying verbally your acceptance in principle of Bendjedid’s invitation, subject to future agreement on a mutually convenient date, and proposing that meanwhile Under Secretary Eagleburger visit Algiers on your behalf for high-level exchanges on issues of mutual concern.7

  1. Source: Reagan Library, George Shultz Papers, Official Memoranda (01/18/1983). Confidential. Sent through Eagleburger. Schneider initialed for Veliotes. Drafted by Ann Korky (NEA/AFN) on January 7; cleared by Sebastian and David Schneider. Korky initialed for Sebastian. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “GPS.” In the right hand margin next to the subject line, an unknown hand wrote: “P staff informed 1/24 9:00 am.” Tab 2 is not attached.↩
  2. In telegram 354567 to Algiers, December 22, 1982, the Department transmitted the text of a letter from Eagleburger to Yaker. Eagleburger said in part “I am delighted with this initiative and understand full well the political gesture reflected in it. I am sure the Secretary will be equally pleased. You are aware, of course, how crowded his schedule is and the difficulty he faces in planning foreign travel commitments. Nonetheless, I am confident the Secretary would look forward to visiting Algeria at some mutually agreeable time, if it proves possible.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820664–0055)↩
  3. In telegram 4815 from Algiers, December 1, 1982, the Embassy reported that Newlin had been called in on November 30 “for general discussion of bilateral relationship with Director of North American and European Affairs Chitour. Expressing surprise and regret at recent U.S. actions—joint U.S.-Moroccan exercises, Sixth Fleet penetration of territorial waters, and U.S. vote in U.N. against Algerian resolution on the Western Sahara—Chitour laid down a clear marker that such initiatives do not square with the Algerian conception of improving the political dialogue.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820621–0869)↩
  4. In telegram 200 from Algiers, January 17, Newlin suggested that given “the unusually warm reception accorded by President Bendjedid to Secretary Baldrige and members of his Trade and Investment Mission,” which “offer U.S. opportunities for a gradual and steady improvement in our political and commercial relations,” Shultz “should respond affirmatively to Bendjedid’s invitation.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830027–0096)↩
  5. Eagleburger and Yaker met on January 24. A summary of their conversation is in telegram 24488 to Algiers, January 27. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830047–0778)↩
  6. Not attached.↩
  7. Eagleburger initialed below this recommendation.↩