Wikileaks: what Bouteflika said about the army chiefs

05 December, 2010

"Anyone can be a candidate for election, in accordance with the constitution, even a general." This is what President Bouteflika said, according to a report published by Wikileaks, during discussions with the head of Africom, General William Ward, during a recent visit of the latter in early December 2009.

Bouteflika underscored that Algeria's military "absolutely" respected the authority of civilian leadership. "This is not at all like Turkey," he said. Bouteflika asserted that the army was forced to take drastic measures during the violence of the 1990s in order to save the country. This was a difficult period, but constitutional rule had been restored. "The house is now in order," he stressed, "and I can tell you that the army obeys the civilians. There is one constitution and all obey it."

Bouteflika acknowledged, however, that the problems of the past still haunted the country. He cited foreign press reports referring to Algeria as a dictatorship and argued that the term was sometimes used carelessly. The Algerian constitution had established the rule of law. In 2004 it was decided that there was no more historical "revolutionary legitimacy". The only legitimacy was the constitution. "Anyone can be a candidate for election, in accordance with the constitution, even a general." He paused, then grinned and said, "But the generals realize the difficulties and none has been a candidate yet."

Egypt and Soccer

Bouteflika shared his perceptions of Egypt's anti-Algerian nationalism following the November 18 World Cup qualifying match. Bouteflika said the Egyptian media had overreacted to the situation and that Algeria did not plan to respond. Algeria could not afford to confuse its historical relationship with Egypt (past, present and future) with the outcome of a soccer match. He said Algeria and Egypt had a number of common political and economic interests and that his country had no desire to have a political crisis over the results of a soccer match. Some have urged Bouteflika to respond publicly to Egyptian claims. "I understand the Egyptians are responding to local conditions," he said, "but we won't take the same tack." Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, Bouteflika asserted, asked to visit Algiers to mediate the issue. Bouteflika told Moussa there was nothing to discuss in Algiers and suggested Moussa might best mediate tensions by working with Cairo to influence Egyptian opinion.

Ennahar

Source: Ennahar.
Link: http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/5320.html.