Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

13. Telegram From the Embassy in Algeria to the Department of State¹

303.

Algiers, January 24, 1982, 1616Z

SUBJECT

• Qadhafi Leaves Algeria After Largely Failing to Achieve Algerian-Libyan “Unity”.

Ref:

• Algiers 256.²

1. C—Entire text

2. Summary: At the end of his January 18–23 visit to Algiers Qadhafi may have achieved some symbolic steps toward greater cooperation, but not the “unity” he apparently sought. So far there has been no public Algerian comment on the visit, and atmospherics have indicated Algerian displeasure. End summary.

3. While Qadhafi’s arrival was covered by Algerian press and TV, there has since been very little media coverage and virtually no Algerian commentary. President Bendjedid met Qadhafi on arrival and saw him off as he left for Tunisia, and the two leaders had discussions several times during the five-day visit. However, the traditional dinner hosted by the President which would be expected for such a guest did not take place, and the Algerians gave other indications of treating the visit with reserve.

4. Qadhafi had a meeting the morning of January 21 with FLN party leaders led by Abdelhamid Mehri, Chairman of the Party Information and Culture Committee (substituting for External Affairs Committee Chairman Sliman Offman, who is ill). That afternoon Qadhafi met with 800 Algeria students for a “dialogue”. Neither of these meetings was reported in the press.

5. We assume Qadhafi’s objectives were largely set out in a Tripoli radio broadcast of January 21 (LD212126, Tripoli Jana in Arabic 1730 GMT 21 Jan 82)³ which reported Qadhafi as stating to the FLN Party leaders that “we are putting forward a proposal for unity between Algeria, Libya and Syria”. Qadhafi also reportedly told this group that a joint meeting would be held in February between the General People’s Committee in the Jamahiriyah and members of the GOA, that the two Parliaments would meet at the end of March, and that “joint theoretical meetings” would be held between the popular cadres of the two countries. These moves, Qadhafi said, would be steps toward a complete merger of the two countries. (We have no confirmation that the above exchanges were in fact agreed.)

6. On a practical level, the Algeris press reported that on January 19 several members of Qadhafi’s delegations met with their Algerian counterparts “to strengthen cooperative and economic and commericial relations between the two countries”. Algerian Finance Minister Boualem Benhamouda met with Secretary of the People’s Committee for the Economy Abou Zey Dourda, as did Algerian Minister of Commerce Abdelaziz Khellef. Algerian Minister of Primary Education Cherif Kharroubi received Libyan Secretary of the People’s General Committee for Education Abdelatif Zlitni, while Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdelhak Bererhi and Libyan Secretary of State for Culture agreed on inter-university exchanges of scientific research in the areas of agronomy, oceanography, fishing and housing in a framework including Tunisia.

7. Presidential Press Counsellor (and Central Committee member) Mohieddine Amimour told an Embassy contact that no joint communiqué will be issued. He went on to say that various objective political, economic and social conditions would have to be satisfied before unity could be achieved. Amimour added that the matter had to be studied carefully, without emotion, to avoid setbacks such as have occurred in the past. Amimour explained the lack of publicity given to the January 21 meetings by saying they were “unofficial”. He said the leftist Lebanese that came with Qadhafi (reftel) were not officially received by anyone. On the Algerian attitude toward Qadhafi, he stated “even if the results are negative, it is important to talk”.

8. We can only speculate as to additional topics the two leaders might have discussed: Middle East developments, U.S. policy toward Libya, border problems, Chad, and the Western Sahara conflict. One source in a position to know has told us that agreement was reached to have a joint border committee meet in the near future.

9. Comment: Algeria, like other Arab countries, supports the ultimate goal of Arab unity. At the same time Algeria has made it clear that any movement in that direction, especially involving Qadhafi (whose unpredictable, volatile nature is well understood here) will be considered with great caution. Nevertheless, while Libyan-Algerian unity is out of the question, Qadhafi’s visit comes at a time of high Arab frustration, following Israeli actions in the Golan and the recent U.S. Security Council veto. The MFA issued a strong statement on the latter occasion (Algiers 126).⁴ While Algeria, like other Arab states is frustrated by what are perceived to be Israeli unilateral actions to impose de facto conditions favorable to Israel, we as yet see no signs that Algeria in the face of lobbying by Qadhafi (and presumably Assad in the near future) is prepared to alter its basic position on the Middle East. That is, strong rhetoric but private opposition to proposals for economic retaliation against the United States.

Newlin

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820040–1039. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information Immediate to Cairo. Sent for information to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Jerusalem, Jidda, Niamey, Rabat, Tel Aviv, and Tunis.
2. In telegram 256 from Algiers, January 20, the Embassy reported: “While there are several theories floating about regarding the object of Qadhafi’s unexpected trip to Algiers with an assortment of Lebanese and Palestinian politicians and Libyan technocrats, one thing clear is that the Algerians are not overjoyed to see their neighbor.” The Embassy continued: “Libyans have reportedly floated talk of union between Algeria and Libya.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D820033–0359)
3. Not found.
4. Not found.