Office of the Historian

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

3148.
Algiers, July 27, 1983, 1310Z

SUBJECT

  • Qadhafi in Algeria.

Ref:

  • (A) Algiers 3102.2
1.
(U) Qadhafi departed Algiers morning July 26, after two-day stay labelled “working visit” by GOA. President Bendjedid met several times with Libyan leader and hosted a dinner limited to the Politburo, high FLN officials, and African and Arab Ambassadors. Qadhafi also appeared before FLN officials at party headquarters, where he was reportedly criticized for encouraging internal PLO dissension.
2.
(U) No details concerning the bilateral talks have filtered out as yet—even the rumor mill remains dry. Highlights of the joint communique include:
—
Reaffirmation of the Saharan peoples’ right to self-determination and independence and support for the Addis Ababa OAU Summit resolution as the best means for “an urgent and peaceful political solution”;
—
Support for the July 16 OAU bureau resolution on Chad, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and national reconciliation;
—
Agreement on the continuing need for supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people under the leadership of the PLO, its sole and unique representative;
—
Reaffirmation of solidarity with Syria as it faces “provocations and challenges.”
3.
(C) Comment: We doubt that Qadhafi’s visit broke new ground. For the Libyan leader, however, it provided a useful occasion to refurbish his regional credentials and to breathe new life into a dwindling dialogue with the GOA. Algeria shares in particular the latter objective, believing it safer to at least remain in communication with the unpredictable Qadhafi. On substance, Bendjedid surely reiterated the Algerian conception of the great Arab Maghreb, i.e., a community of interest to be patiently developed through increased regional cooperation over [Page 48] several generations—the antithesis of Qadhafi’s grandiose visions of immediate fusion into one great Arab nation. Other topics of discussion probably included Qadhafi’s impressions—in the wake of his Rabat visit—of Moroccan intentions in the Western Sahara, the current state of play in Chad, and recent developments in the Middle East.3
4.
Nouakchott minimize considered.
Newlin
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830428–1045. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information Priority to Nouakchott, Paris, Rabat, and Tunis.↩
  2. In telegram 3102 from Algiers, July 25, the Embassy reported that during remarks made upon his arrival “Qadhafi called Algeria ‘his second country’ and said the time has come for Arab nations to face up to their problems, i.e. ‘the march of Zionism backed by American imperialism.’” The Embassy noted that while no details were available concerning Qadhafi’s talks with Algerian officials, nonetheless, “Maghrebi cooperation and Western Sahara are thought by nearly all observers to figure among major points of discussion.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830421–0583)↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 22.↩