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

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

309868.

Washington, October 8, 1985, 1923Z

SUBJECT

• Vice President’s Meeting With Foreign Minister Ibrahim.

1. All secret

2. Summary—During a meeting with the Vice President, Algerian Foreign Minister Ibrahimi explained Algerian views on key issues in the Maghreb—the Western Sahara and the threat from Libya—and also discussed the Israeli raid on PLO headquarters in Tunis.² End summary

3. Algerian Foreign Minister Ibrahimi met with the Vice President on October second at 2:00 p.m. Also attending were Ambassador Sahnoun, D. Gregg of OVP, A. Raphel of NEA and H. Teicher of NSC.

4. The Foreign Minister opened by expressing President Bendjedid’s warm greetings. In response, the Vice President said that the Bendjedid visit to the states³ moved bilateral relations forward in a way seldom seen in such visits. The Minister noted that bilateral relations between the two countries were quite good.

5. The Minister then turned to the Israeli raid on PLO headquarters in Tunis noting that it had engendered intense emotions in Algiers since this is the first Israeli strike against the Maghreb. He said that he had consulted closely the other Arab Foreign Ministers in New York in preparation for the UNSC debate.

6. The Minister noted that efforts in the Maghreb had been directed against Qadhafi who, in Algerian eyes, will never listen to voices of reason. Therefore, Algeria has been attempting to strengthen Tunisia. The GOA had agreed to buy Tunisian products and to fund industrial projects in southern Tunisia. Algiers also wanted to strengthen Tunisia militarily—the Israeli attack had caused major problems for this effort to contain Qadhafi.

7. In response to a question from the Vice President, Foreign Minister Ibrahimi outlined the history of the Algerian-Moroccan dialogue on the Western Sahara. He added that Algeria discovered evidence in July that Libya was continuing to supply Soviet arms to the Polisario, thereby showing that Libya remained active in the conflict.

8. The Minister noted that in addition to concerns about Libya and the Western Sahara, Algerian efforts in the Maghreb were focussed on a third issue as well—the role of France. Paris is interested in working with the Maghreb countries individually and has no appreciation for the importance of a United Maghreb. Also, the French-Libyan accord⁴ on Chad and the socialist government’s policies on the Western Sahara are troubling to Algiers.

9. In response to the Vice President’s question on the possibilites for a referendum in the Western Sahara, Ibrahimi described the history of the effort noting that three elements were key to a solution of the Sahara issue—a referendum, negotiations, and the withdrawal of all forces before the referendum. The Minister added that the UN Secretary General’s new report calls for a referendum without conditions.⁵ The GOA has asked the Secretary to play a role in supervising the referendum.

10. The conversation then returned to the Israeli raid on Tunis with the Vice President saying that it caused a real dilemma for the United States which is a target of terrorism everywhere. We want and need maximum international cooperation to combat terrorism.⁶ At the same time, the mood in the United States would fully support appropriate retaliation in response to the terrorist killings of American citizens. Although we have excellent relations with Tunisia, we also understood the Israeli response to terrorist acts against its citizens.

11. The Vice President went on to say that we do not condone attacks into Tunisia and asked the Foreign Minister to tell President Bourguiba that we are troubled by what has happened. Our friendship for Tunisia is deep and historical. Yet, we must work with like-minded states to find ways to fight the scourge of terrorism.

Shultz

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850717–0517. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Raphel; cleared by Gregg, McKinley, Pearson, and Ruth Van Heuven (S/S–O); approved by Raphel. Sent for information Immediate to Rabat. Sent for information to Tunis, USUN, and Paris.
2. On October 1, Israel bombed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) headquarters in Tunisia. See Documents 331–334.
3. See Document 147.
4. Reference is to the September 17, 1984, agreement between France and Libya under which both countries agreed to withdraw their troops from Chad. Documentation on the accord is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XLVIII, Libya; Chad.
5. See footnote 3, Document 433.
6. In telegram 316383 to Algiers, October 15, the Department reported that Bush had also told Ibrahimi that “he is in charge of the President’s Special Task Force on Terrorism. He added that we would be glad to exchange ideas, either in Washington or Algiers, on how to counter terrorism. Ibrahimi responded that he would pass this message to his government. In any case, cooperation in this field has already begun, and Ibrahimi agreed, should be deepened. It is essential, however, that the dialogue be carried out very discreetly.” (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1985 Nodis Telegrams: Lot 95D025, Algiers #1, Nodis 1985, Nodis Sept 30 thru Dec 17)