Algérie Presse Service (APS) – December 4, 2011
Algeria and France are determined to provide “the required impetus” to revive their bilateral relations, Minister of Interior and Local Governments Dahou Ould Kablia said today in Algiers.
“We are determined, in keeping with the wish expressed by the Algerian and French presidents, to give the required impetus for the revival of our relations in all areas, considering that relations between the ministries of Interior of the two countries involve extremely complex issues,” declared Mr. Ould Kablia, speaking at a joint press conference held with his French counterpart Claude Guéant, after their meeting.
The complex issues relate to “security, circulation of persons, settlement of people and their stay,” said the minister, noting that he and his French counterpart have covered all “essential” issues.
In that respect, Mr. Ould Kablia indicated that, in view of the limited time afforded to the meeting during the one-day visit by Mr. Guéant, the two officials have decided to entrust their aides with the rest of the discussions. “We agreed that our collaborators will continue the work through more extensive discussions, in France as well as in Algeria, within the coming weeks,” he added.
For his part, the French minister said that “friendship is not to be found in treaties, but rather in acts”, referring to a friendship treaty that the two countries had planned to sign in 2006. Mr. Guéant added that, “I think that it is in our acts that we wish, both of us, to find the evidence of that vivid friendship between the two peoples.”
In that respect, he recalled that both President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and President Nicolas Sarkozy had decided that partnership between the two countries had to be an “exceptional” partnership and added that it was possible to add “a number of other objectives” to cooperation between Algeria and France.
“We can improve this cooperation even further. A meeting such as the one we just had fosters further understanding between the two governments and, consequently, between the two countries,” said the French minister of Interior.
Moreover, Mr. Guéant made a point to pay tribute to “the numerous initiatives introduced under the aegis of President Bouteflika” and intended to strengthen the practice of democracy in Algeria.
“I was highly impressed by the description given to me by Mr. Ould Kablia of all the pieces of legislation that have been either adopted or submitted to the Parliament, with the objective of strengthening democracy further in Algeria. This is deeply encouraging,” said Mr. Guéant.
The French minister of Interior arrived today in Algiers for an official visit.
