MAE, December 7, 2011
Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci declared on December 7 in Paris that he shared his French counterpart’s view that Algerian-French relations are headed in the direction of intensified cooperation between Algeria and France.
“I seize this opportunity to say that we share the view that Algerian-French relations are headed in a direction which enables our two countries to pursue and intensify, at the same time, cooperation on the political and economic levels as well as all other areas,” said Mr. Medelci, speaking at the a joint press conference held with the head of French diplomacy, shortly after their meeting at the French foreign affairs ministry.
“In view of the measures that we have initiated or finalized for 2012, he added, this year will be emblematic, in the sense that it represents for us Algerians and for you French, in terms of impact of historical memory, and at the same time it will generate the dynamics of hope, which what is possible between peoples that wish to continue to work together in friendship, consideration, et reciprocal respect.”
The minister also declared, in this framework, having discussed with his French counterpart that Algeria is also working at the European Union level toward “consolidating its relations and finalizing negotiations on tariff dismantling.” He also added that Algeria would “very soon” open exploratory negotiations with the EU intended to enable her to take part in the European Policy of Neighborliness (PEV). “This policy has undergone a lifting which makes it more accessible to us as a country,” he said.
Discussing the proposals he made and which are intended to strengthen bilateral relations as commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Algeria’s independence approaches and “to which Mr. Juppé has favorably replied,” Mr. Medelci indicated that he had noted “the need” to conclude a number of projects that had been managed “a bit too slowly”, including in particular the Paris Algeria’s International School, the Algerian Cultural Center, as well as the Algeria House at the International Student Housing Center.
He indicated that this project is a new one. The others, however, depend on clarification of their statuses, which could be defined in early 2012 “so that those who will benefit from such projects – the young and women of culture – may be involved in this revival of cooperation in an area that is still sensitive and very significant.”
With regards to Algeria’s position on the Syrian crisis, Mr. Medelci declared that Algéria “did not limit itself to issuing condemnations,” which, he said, Algeria did last June already, adding that “Today, Algeria has transcended the condemnation stage.”
“It is (acting) within the Arab League. It is also member of the (Arab (Inter-) ministerial (Follow-Up) Committee on the Syrian crisis. With the support of the international community, we are pushing for acceptance of the Arab initiative, which aims primarily to stop the violence and above all open up a dialogue among the Syrians themselves because, after all, their future is for them alone to decide, and Algeria is working toward that end within the Arab League,” said Mr. Medelci.
