19 - 25 July 2001
Issue No.543
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 19 - 25 July 2001 Issue No.543 |
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Bouteflika goes aid-hunting
Bouteflika's visit to the United States was aimed at finding a new ally to help the country out of its economic crisis, Thomas Gorguissian reports from Washington
Algerian President Abdel-Aziz Bouteflika went to Washington last week -- his first visit to the United States in 16 years -- to emphasise one key message: his country is ready to enhance and expand its relations with all nations, especially the United States. He reiterated that oil and security cooperation are vital for both countries now and in the future.
After meeting President George W Bush on 12 July, Bouteflika told reporters that "cooperation between both countries could be a model for a lasting and durable partnership," and expressed hope that he will be able to attract US gas and oil companies to invest more in this oil and gas-rich North African country.
The two leaders, as an administration official put it, expressed a "general desire" to expand US investment in Algeria's energy sector. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel-Aziz Belkhadem told Al- Ahram Weekly that the target is "to increase the size of American investments in the oil sector from the current level of $4 billion to $8 billion in the next four years."
"We have also dealt with the fight against terrorists," Bouteflika told reporters. Security and military cooperation and efforts to combat terrorism were priorities on the meeting's agenda, officials from both sides said.
There were reports that Bouteflika sought to negotiate an arms deals but no details were available.
During the visit the Algerian president was eager to discuss "the strategic partnership" between the two countries and the history of "more than 200 years of relations." He also affirmed that Algeria was looking forward to stability. Appearing at the National Press Club, Bouteflika pointed out that while European companies fled his country during its years of trouble "American companies came and gambled on the future of Algeria." He also stressed that in Algerian- American relations "oil is oil and politics is politics" and that was the case for decades since Algeria's independence.
Bush and Bouteflika in the oval office of the White House
(photo: AP)
Last fall, during the millennium summit in New York, an attempt was made to arrange a meeting between Bouteflika and then-President Bill Clinton but failed.
According to American and Algerian officials, the visit was considered a success for businesses, especially the oil and gas sectors. But it was a defeat for Algerian and international human rights groups who raised the case of alleged violations by the Algerian government during its ongoing confrontation with armed militant groups. A group of protesters staged a demonstration in front of the White House while Bouteflika was meeting Bush. The American president reportedly expressed concern over the security situation in Algeria without criticising the Algerian army's heavy-handed policy in confronting Islamic militants.
Observers believe that the strong involvement of US Vice-President Dick Cheney shaped the administration's Algeria initiative. Cheney has for many years sought to build closer ties with Algeria, seeing it as the passageway to increased US influence in the region long known for its strong links with former colonisers in France.
As the former chief executive of Halliburton Co, a well-known energy services conglomerate, Cheney met with Bouteflika and travelled to Algiers where he promoted the concept of stronger bilateral ties, including American military cooperation.
Another aspect raised during Bouteflika's visit was Algeria's relationship with France and how that could be affected by the rapprochement with Washington. Bouteflika told reporters at the White House that there was "no competition between the US and France. Algeria is open to all and is free to diversify its relations. The United States understands that and France does, too."
Speaking in both French and Arabic while answering reporters' questions, Bouteflika said rapprochement is important and vital for both Algeria's development and the region's stability.
Algeria and the United States last year worked together towards achieving a settlement of the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright attended the signing of that accord in Algiers in December 2000. "Algeria is not a prisoner of anyone," Foreign Minister Belkhadem said in an interview. "Algeria is working to improve its relations with all countries, "he added.
He also categorically denied rumours that pressure was exerted to link the American rapprochement to improving or normalising relations with Israel.
Bouteflika clearly expressed Algeria's rejection of a plan proposed by former US Secretary of State James Baker to settle the Western Sahara conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front seeking the region's independence. Baker's plan called for a different solution from that long adopted by the UN, based on conducting a referendum for the Sahrawi people to determine their future. But Morocco and the Polisario Front disagree on who was entitled to take part in the referendum. Bouteflika told reporters the proposed plan would deprive the Sahrawi people of their right to self- determination and would represent a violation of UN resolutions.
A new approach and a better proposal are required, Bouteflika suggested. But American officials avoided, at least publicly, expressing their disagreement with the Algerian president, probably to avoid undermining the economic deals reached.
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