Algérie Presse Service (APS) - October 24, 2012

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci delcared yesterday in Algiers that the meeting held on Oct. 19 in Bamako, Mali, helped to design a "comprehensive" strategic approach to a settlement of the crisis in northern Mali, adding that the approach was approved by all parties.

Speaking at a press conference jointly held with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamel Amr, Mr. Medelci said that "the Bamako meeting was convened with the purpose of defining a strategic approach for the settlement of the crisis in Mali, following the passing of UN Security Council resolution 20-71."

The minister spoke of a "consensus" on the approach by all parties involved in the meeting in Bamako, including Ecowas and UN Security Council members, the permanent members included.

"This solution is based first of all on the provision of assistance to the Malian government and authorities to enable them to regain control and redeploy over the entire Malian territory," Mr. Medelci said, adding that "it is impossible to achieve a credible resolution of the crisis in northern Mali without any dialogue among the Malians."

All parties taking part in the Bamako meeting have underlined the imperative of a settlement of the crisis in northern Mali being based on the principle that all sides give top priority to fighting terrorism and that the fight is led using all means necessary.

Participants at the meeting have also agreed "to seriously take into account the daily issues facing the Malian people, (which are) very serious humanitarian problems," Mr. Medelci said before adding that the participants have committed "to take all necessary measures to help the Malians."