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

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

5506.

Algiers, December 13, 1983, 1053Z

SUBJECT

• Mauritania to Join Algerian/Tunisian Friendship Treaty.

Ref:

• Nouakchott 5653 (Notal).²

1. Confidential—Entire text

2. During December 13 meeting with DAS Schneider and Ambassador Newlin, MFA Deputy Secretary General Kerroum said that Mauritania was expected to sign on today to Algerian-Tunisian friendship treaty. Tunisian Prime Minister Mzali is arriving Algiers 1100 hours, December 13, to join with President Bendjedid and President Haidalla for ceremony. It is also reported that Haidalla and Bendjedid will sign border agreement formalizing Mauritania-Algerian frontier.

3. Comment: Mauritania’s adherence to treaty further crystallizes division of Greater Maghreb into two camps—Morocco (supported by cooperation with Libya in certain areas) on one side Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania on the other. Although Algerians remain hopeful that concept of Greater Maghreb cooperation can be revitalized, they are discouraged by events of last six months during which no progress has been made. The expansion of the Algerian-Tunisian treaty also represents a political coup for Bendjedid, less than one week before the 5th Party Congress.

Newlin

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830733–0734. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information Priority to Nouakchott and Tunis. Sent for information to Bamako, Niamey, Paris, and Rabat.
2. In telegram 5653 from Nouakchott, December 12, the Embassy reported on Haidalla’s impending visits to Algiers and Tunis. The Embassy stated: “The primary issues on the agenda, regardless of who initiated the visits, are probably the current crisis in Lebanon and the resolution of the Sahara question.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830731–0293) Reference is to the ongoing fighting between the PLO and the Lebanese Government and intra-PLO fighting. For additional information, see Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XVIII, Parts 1 and 2, Lebanon, 1981–1984.