EU-Algeria talks focus on massacres

A woman mourns massacre victims in a Sidi Hamad cemetery

January 20, 1998
Web posted at: 12:23 p.m. EST (1723 GMT)

ALGIERS, Algeria (CNN) -- Talks between a European Union delegation and Algerian government officials were described Tuesday as "extremely useful" as the groups sought to resolve the North African country's spiraling violence.

Derek Fatchett, British Foreign Office secretary, said the two-hour meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, which lasted an hour longer than scheduled, was long and fruitful.

"We've discussed a whole range of issues: security, human rights, cooperation between Algeria and the European Union Commission. We've discussed humanitarian issues. We found the meeting extremely useful," Fatchett told reporters.

Austria's Foreign Ministry state secretary Benita Ferrero-Waldner was asked if the meeting had been tough, and she responded, "Let's say it was a good dialogue and that's very important."

The EU's mission to Algeria is the first of its kind. The EU troika of junior ministers represents the previous, current and next officeholders of the 15-member union's rotating presidency. The officials came to Algiers prepared for straight talking from a government angered by suspicions that its own army may be involved in the wave of vicious massacres that has engulfed the republic.

The Algerian government wants the EU to help eradicate support for armed groups such as this one

The EU ministers also planned to meet with Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, members of the official opposition, representatives of Algerian human rights groups and editors of national newspapers. The EU ministers will not visit any massacre sites during this trip.

Up to 1,100 civilians, including young children, have been killed in attacks in the past three weeks. Most had their throats cut or were burned alive.

Algerian authorities and the media have largely blamed Muslim militants for the carnage, but the circumstances around much of the violence remains unclear.

Fatchett, who heads the visiting troika, told reporters the EU had come in a spirit of partnership with the Algerian people and held "no particular prescription or prejudices."

"Throughout Europe, there has been a deep concern about the suffering of the people of Algeria, and our intention over the next 24 hours is to proceed (with) a dialogue in order to see whether the EU could play a constructive role in alleviating the suffering of Algerians," he said.

Despite the European effort, lower-level violence continues in Algeria on a daily basis.

As the talks were held Tuesday, residents reported that a bomb had exploded in a busy street in the Ben Aknoun district of the Algerian capital. No immediate details were available.

Algerian residents said that on Monday, the day the troika arrived, up to 16 people had their throats slit in Bouira province, some 60 miles east of Algiers.

Algerian newspapers gave similar details on Tuesday, as well as reporting another 20 deaths. These included five schoolchildren, who had their throats cut in Tiaret province on Sunday and six members of one family in El Hammam village in the southern area of Hassi Bahbah the same day.

Last week, about 20 miles south of Algiers in the village of Sidi Hamad, the government said 103 people were massacred.

Human-rights groups seek independent probe

Residents there have mixed views on the EU visit.

"This troika appears to have good intentions, but for us as Muslims, if you consider what they have done in other countries, for example the way the Americans have behaved toward Iraq, you can't accept this," said one man.

Another man saw the EU as interfering in Algeria's affairs, but then added, "It's the only way of putting pressure on the Algerian government."

Algerian officials have so far ruled out any official inquiry into the massacres. Instead, the government wants the EU to dismantle what it says are Muslim militant networks operating in Europe and supporting attacks in Algeria.

One pro-government newspaper called London a "sanctuary for the GIA (Armed Islamic Groups)" and Belgium a "haven of peace for terrorist networks." It said the massacres were planned "on the banks of the Thames" and urged Britain to crack down.

But human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are instead putting the focus on the Algerian government.

The groups have called for an independent investigation into the violence, accusing authorities of gross human rights violations and failing to protect Algerian citizens.

Algeria's cycle of bloodshed dates back to 1992 when the government canceled elections that seemed likely to bring Islamic militants to power. Since then, an estimated 65,000 people have been killed.

But it was the surge of bloodshed when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on December 30 that focused unprecedented international attention to Algeria and prompted the EU ministers' visit.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• EU mission heads to troubled Algeria - January 19, 1998
• Algeria's insurgency enters 7th year amid brutal killings - January 10, 1998
• Two European delegations to go to Algeria - January 9, 1998
• Report: More than 400 massacred in Algeria - January 2, 1998
• Algerian election comes off without violence - October 23, 1997

Related sites:

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• Algeria - CIA World Factbook
• ArabNet - Algeria
• Window on Algeria

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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