New US Ambassador in Algeria: “Obama respects Bouteflika's experience … Nato will not intervene in Syria and Kadhafi has no future in Libya”

In his first interview granted to “Echorouk”, a few hours after handing over his credentials to the President of the Republic, Abdellaziz Bouteflika, the new US Ambassador in Algeria, his Excellency Henry S. Ensher has asserted that the NTC's accusations against Algeria over the alleged sending of mercenaries to Libya are totally groundless. His Excellency described as “excellent” the relations between Algiers and Washington. He said that these relations would be further bolstered for the mutual benefit of the American and Algerian peoples. Moreover, Henry S. Ensher indicated that US President Barack Obama respected a lot the experience of Algerian President Abdellaziz Bouteflika.

• Echorouk : A report drafted of late by the US State Department (i.e.: World report on trafficking in persons) classified our country in the black list of those countries involved in the trafficking of human beings. However, the Algerian foreign Ministry said in a reaction that such a report was based on “erroneous and unreliable information”. Why the United States government doesn’t directly contact the Algerian authorities concerning the contents of such reports?

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• Henry S. Ensher : This phenomenon exists in all countries of the world including the United States of America. I came to know recently from a news report aired by CNN that there is in southern California a network specialized in this sort of trafficking.
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• But, let me tell you that the US is in constant contact with Algeria in an effort to reinforce the struggle against this nefarious phenomenon.

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• Echorouk : With the release, now and then, of advisory notes warning American nationals to avoid what it calls “hot spots”, don’t you think that Washington “dramatizes” so to speak the security situation in Algeria?

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• Henry S. Ensher : From our personal point of view, I should say that there is a steady improvement in the security situation in Algeria.
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• The security file requires in fact a close cooperation with the government and people of Algeria.
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• We are steadily following up on this cooperation through direct contacts between the Defense Ministries and the Armies of the two countries.

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• Echorouk : The security situation in Libya remains “confused” given the unabated fighting between the insurgents and pro-Kadhafi forces. Don’t you think that the “foreign” intervention in this country has aborted all bids for a peaceful settlement of the crisis between the two parties at issue namely the Kadhafi regime and the National Transitional Council (NTC)?

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• Henry S. Ensher : Let me tell you in a straightforward way that the most important element for the United States in Libya is the Libyan people.
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• Furthermore, we have to take up our responsibilities as part of the UN Security Council resolutions.
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• Algeria has also in this connection the same responsibilities as the United States of America.
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• In so doing, we are intent on pursuing our cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the Libyan crisis.
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• In addition, we duly recognize that a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis is possible but this wholly depends on the will of the Libyan people.
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• But, we firmly consider that Muammar Kadhafi has no role to play in the future in Libya.

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• Echorouk : Certain quarters affirm that Nato’s intervention in Libya is also aimed at grabbing Libyan oil and not at liberating the Libyan people from the dictatorship imposed on them by the Kadhafi regime. What is your comment on this very point?

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• Henry S. Ensher : We have heard such empty statements in several regions of the world, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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• But let me tell you about an economic truth: Instability triggers an oil price hike and this obviously runs counter to our interests.
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• But we clearly favour the democratic regimes and we accept a medium-term hike in the price of oil.

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• Echorouk : The National Transitional Council (NTC) has repeatedly accused our country of funneling mercenaries to Libya. These allegations have been categorically denied by Algeria. Why thus the NTC is still doggedly accusing our country despite the firm denials of Algiers?

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• Henry S. Ensher: For the time being, there is no report or evidence regarding these accusations.

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• Echorouk : Are the United States of America still keen to set up an “Africom” military base in the Sahel region in the name of the anti-terrorist struggle?

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• Henry S. Ensher : I should stress that there is no will to set up a military base either in the Sahel region or in another part of the African continent.
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• However, with regard to the “Africom”, I personally believe that cooperation ought to be consolidated between the American and Algerian Armies.

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• Echorouk : Concerning the vexed Syrian file, do you surmise that NATO could also intervene in Syria as it did in Libya?

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• Henry S. Ensher : No, I don’t think that NATO will intervene in Syria under the current circumstances.
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• Brief Biography:
• On March 29, US President Obama announced his intent to nominate Mr Henry S. Ensher to be Ambassador to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The WH released the following brief biography:

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• Mr Henry S. Ensher most recently served as the United States Senior Civilian Representative in southern Afghanistan.  Immediately prior to that assignment, he was Director of the Office of Afghanistan Affairs in the Department of State.  Mr. Ensher joined the Foreign Service in 1983 and his overseas assignments include Hermosillo, Jeddah, Muscat, Damascus, Vienna, Algiers, Tel Aviv and Baghdad.  He also directed political affairs for Iraq within the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in 2006. 
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• Mr. Henry S. Ensher received his B.A. from Loyola Marymount University.