Office of the Historian

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

118592.
Washington, April 15, 1988, 0131Z

SUBJECT

  • Kuwait Hijacking: Negotiations.

Ref:

  • Algiers 2168.2
1.
Secret—Entire text.
2.
We read report of Lakehal Ayat debriefing on status of negotiations (reftel) with great interest, particularly his vague reference to a package deal which might eventually include the release of some or all of our hostages in Lebanon.3
3.
We of course very much want our hostages to be freed. And we have always said we would talk to anyone or any government about their release. However, what we will not do is make concessions ourselves or encourage others to in order to effect their release.4 Hopefully, the Algerians understand that.
4.
However, it may be that the Algerians will conclude (or have already concluded) that the way to break the current deadlock is to dangle the bait of U.S. hostages before us to induce us to pressure Kuwait to change its position on the Dawa prisoners. Indeed, Lakehal Ayat’s vague speculation in para 4 of your report already points in that direction.
5.
In light of where we believe Lakehal Ayat may be leading, we feel it important that you know what the bottom line for the USG is (and is not). Any package that would require us to make concessions ourselves or to pressure the GOK on the Dawa 17 is out.5 We want to head off any such thinking right away to avoid later serious misunderstandings. You should take advantage of your meeting with Lakehal Ayat (or Khediri) to make this clear to the GOA.
Kampelman
  1. Source: Department of State, Bureau of Counter-Terrorism Records, Papers of L. Paul Bremer II as Ambassador to The Hague and Director of the Office of Counter-Terrorism: Lot 89D283, Kuwait 422 Hijacking 1988. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Bremer; cleared by Burleigh, Gregory Delawie (S/S–O), Joseph Lake (S/S), and Perito; approved by Kampelman.↩
  2. See Document 176.↩
  3. An unknown hand circled “great” in this sentence.↩
  4. An unknown hand underlined the words “concessions ourselves or encourage others to in order to effect their release” in this sentence.↩
  5. An unknown hand underlined this sentence.↩