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

140. Letter From President Reagan to Algerian President Bendjedid¹

Washington, October 29, 1984

Your Excellency:

I congratulate you and the people of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of your struggle for independence.²

The peoples of the United States of America and Algeria both fought long wars and sacrificed much for their independence and I am proud to note that, after you achieved independence, the United States continued to participate in the planned and orderly development of Algeria, particularly by opening our institutions of higher and technical education to Algerian students and by participation of American businesses in the expansion of Algeria’s industrial and technical infrastructures.

America values the friendship of Algeria. We seek to further improve our relations, and I am aware of the efforts Algeria has made in this direction. America will long remember Algeria’s helpful role in achieving the release of American Embassy personnel who were held hostage in Tehran. We also appreciate your efforts to help solve the dispute between Iran and Iraq, and Algeria’s contributions on other issues of concern to my government and the international community.

Mr. President, as you know, the United States is one of Algeria’s major commercial partners. My country is the second largest customer for Algeria’s crude and finished hydrocarbon products, and we are a major supplier of technical, agricultural and consumer products for the Algerian market. We value this relationship and wish it to expand even further.

Allow me to take this opportunity to thank you for the hospitality your country has offered to officials of my administration, particularly the personal hospitality you gave to Vice President George Bush. In keeping with this growing friendship and our shared desire further to develop mutually beneficial relationships between our two peoples and governments, I would like to extend to you an invitation to visit the United States at a mutually convenient date during 1985.³

Allow me, Your Excellency, again to express my warm personal greetings to yourself and to the people of Algeria, and my best wishes for your continued well-being, progress, and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ronald Reagan

1. Source: Reagan Library, Near East and South Asia Affairs Directorate, Algeria 1984 (1). No classification marking.
2. Algeria’s War of Independence began on November 1, 1954.
3. In a November 6 letter Hodel, who led the U.S. Delegation to Algiers for the 30th anniversary of the revolution, informed Reagan that, after presenting him with Reagan’s letter and invitation, Bendjedid “Without hesitation and with obvious pleasure” had “accepted immediately.” (Reagan Library, Near East and South Asia Affairs Directorate, Algeria 1984(1))