Office of the Historian

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

26509.
Washington, January 28, 1986, 0324Z

SUBJECT

  • Vice President’s Letter to Bendjedid.

1. S—Entire text.

2. Following is text of Vice President Bush’s letter to Bendjedid. Original letter to follow by courier.

Begin text:

His Excellency

Chadli Bendjedid

President of the Democratic and Popular

Republic of Algeria

Algiers

[Page 346]

Dear Mr. President:

One of the more positive and enjoyable events on my 1985 calendar was the opportunity to renew my friendship with you during your highly successful trip to the United States in April.2 Your visit proved to be a key step in the rapidly improving relations between our two countries.

High level dialogue between Algeria and the United States continues to increase; the first meeting of our bilateral Joint Economic Commission is about to take place3 and technological exchanges and assistance in such sectors as agriculture are growing. In short, Mr. President, I see many reasons to be pleased with our bilateral relations. Impediments to closer cooperaton are being overcome and I am convinced that 1986 will bring us even closer together.

I am concerned, however, by issues which continue to cloud relations between your country and another friend of the United States, Morocco. As I have indicated previously,4 I continue to hope that Algeria and Morocco will resume direct talks on questions which divide your two countries, particularly the Western Sahara problem. I have been pleased to learn from close friends in France that you remain open to the possibility of such talks. We remain convinced that the solution to this conflict can best be approached through discussions between your two governments. I have written King Hassan to express this view,5 and wish to express to you directly my hope that such talks can take place.

Mr. President, I again reiterate my pleasure at the obvious growth in understanding and friendship between our two great countries. I write to you with the hope that the new year will bring prosperity to both you and the people of Algeria and with the fervent wish that friendship will grow also between those we count as friends in the vital Mahgreb area.

Sincerely, George Bush.

End text.

Shultz
  1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, 1986 Nodis Telegrams: Lot 95D23, Algiers Nodis 1986. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted from text provided by the White House; cleared by Joann Alba (S/S–S), McKinley, Zweifel, Johnson, and Robert Pace (S/S–O); approved by Ussery. Sent for information Priority to Rabat.↩
  2. See Documents 147 and 148.↩
  3. The U.S.-Algeria Joint Economic Commission meetings were scheduled for February 17–18 in Algiers.↩
  4. See Document 155.↩
  5. For Bush’s letter to Hassan, see Document 436.↩