Algérie Presse Service (APS) - Jan. 25, 2013
In his address before the 22nd session of the African Union's Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, minister delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel declared that Algeria's response to the terrorist attack on the Tiguentourine gas complex of In Amenas has shown the country's determination in facing terrorism and its decision to make "no concession" to it could not prevent Algeria from honoring its regional and international responsibilities in fighting this scourge or from its duty as a neighbor of Mali and other countries of the sub-region.

As he thanked the President of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the African governments, and the regional and international organizations for condemning that terrorist attack and for expressing their solidarity with Algeria, Mr. Messahel said that "neutralization of this important criminal group henceforth deprives the terrorist organizations of the region of one their most bloodthirsty and most dangerous groups."

Mr. Messahel, who is leading the Algerian delegation taking part in the proceedings of the AU Executive Council, explained that the only motivation of the group was to kill a maximum of people and to jeopardize the In Amenas gas deposit.

"The objectives of the group, its sophisticated armament, which included means of large-scale destruction, the sensitivity of the site, and the group's decision to take action by killing innocent victims and wanting to take hostages out of the national territory, have led the Algerian army, whose professionalism, expertise, as well as intelligence about the situations have been demonstrated, to intervene in order to avoid real carnage among the hostages and large-scope economic and environmental catastrophe," he said.

Addressing the situation prevailing in Mali, which constitutes a "major" concern for Algeria, Mr. Messahel said that it continues to grab the attention of the Algerian authorities in their search for a "quick and lasting" resolution of the crisis.

He also recalled that Algeria's position is "founded on major and strategic objectives, including preservation of the national territory of Mali, pursuit of the implacable fight against terrorism and organized crime, and the return, as soon as conditions allow it, to democratic legitimacy, while underscoring that such objectives, included in the strategic concept, do unite the international community on a resolution of the Malian crisis.

Mr. Messahel recalled as well that Algeria has argued in support of stronger political leadership in Mali, which he called an essential condition for implementing any crisis resolution.

In the same vein, the minister recalled that Algeria argued for mobilization of the international community in support of Mali and expressed his "satisfaction" with the contribution made by Ecowas, the leadership role played by the African Union, the support provided by the partners, and with the just perception of the situation by the UN Security Council.

"We consider, in this regard, that the conduct by the AU of the crisis resolution process in Mali is not only in keeping with its obligations included in its constituent act and in the Protocol on the creation of the Peace and Security Council, but it constitutes as well a guarantee for an orderly mobilization of the continent and, beyond that, the international community, around Mali," Mr. Messahel said.

Pursuing, he noted that "any military intervention needs to be conducted in full responsibility, that is to say, an enlightened conduct, assured through good preparation, consistency of command of committed forces, efficient mobilization of required means and precise definition of targets, namely the terrorist groups and those affiliated with transnational organized crime, which constitute the real threat for Mali and our region."

Nevertheless, Mr. Messahel recalled that Algeria has advocated dialogue among Malians as a means of achieving an "adequate" response to the, legitimate, claims of the populations of northern Mali.

He also assured that recourse to force to eradicate terrorism and transnational organized crime is not only "legitimate" but also an "obligation" stemming from "individual responsibility of states and collective responsibility of the countries of the region and the international community."

"Such responsibilities are all the more pressing that the terrorist groups attempt to expand their field of activity, be it in the Sahel, in Nigeria or in Somalia," the minister added, noting that the approach is therefore "connected to the dual approach including political solution and recourse to force."

Moreover, Mr. Messahel recalled that in the aftermath of the attack on the town of Konna (Jan. 10, 2013), Algeria has officially condemned and in the most "vigorous" terms such terrorist attacks and expressed its solidarity with Mali, affirming that the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime remain a "priority on the agenda" of the international community, thanks to a cooperation and partnership which Algeria has always called for.

The Algerian official also indicated that in the wake of that attack, Algeria made arrangements to close its border with Mali and informed that country's prime minister, in order to prevent and avoid any movement of terrorists and weapons between the two countries and to reduce mobility of the terrorist groups.