74. Letter From President Carter to Algerian President Bendjedid1
I am pleased to inform you personally that Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, my Assistant for National Security Affairs, is leading the American delegation to your celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Algerian revolution. The happiness of this occasion is in strong contrast to the sorrow which we shared with the Algerian nation less than a year ago at the funeral of the late President Boumediene.2
This year’s national day celebrations will also provide a special opportunity for a high-level discussion of our common concerns. Dr. Brzezinski has my full confidence and looks forward to such a discussion with you. I hope that you will receive him and talk with him as freely and frankly as you would with me about the matters that so concern us both in this critical period. He will report personally to me upon his return to Washington.
I am confident that our mutual interest in encouraging the development of international understanding and cooperation will continue to guide our relations. In particular, my country desires to build on the constructive bilateral ties which our two nations already enjoy. I view our mutual relations as important to the development and progress which I know both of us desire to see in the North African region.
Sincerely,
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 2, Algeria: 1979–1980. No classification marking.↩
- See Document 69.↩