|
President BOUTEFLIKA takes part in AU Summit in Addis Ababa |
|
|
|
In Addis Ababa, President Bouteflika hails the African Peer Evaluation Mechanism and underlines the vital significance of information and communication technologies for African development
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is participating in the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union, along with other African Heads of State and Government, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stressed the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), calling them “indispensible tools” to achieve sustainable development in Africa. The President said modernization of economies is “intimately linked” to rapid mastery of digital technologies by all economic and social actors and to development of human capital “whose key vector is investment in education, training, research and innovation.” Unfortunately, added Mr. Bouteflika, Africa is lagging in this crucial development area and narrowing this gap is “one of the major challenges for each one of our countries, for our sub-regions, and for our continent.”
The Algerian Head of State called on the assembled Heads of State and Government of the Continent to join efforts and stimulate development of basic infrastructures focused on “high and very high connectivity”, while paying “particular attention” to tariff schedules that would “enable low-revenue populations to have access to the benefits of information networks.” Mr. Bouteflika seized the opportunity of the meeting to recall that Algeria hosted in December 2009 the 3rd African Conference on Space Science and Technologies for Sustainable Development. That meeting, said the President, called for establishing a regional framework able to foster a consolidation of all human and material resources available to African countries in all segments of the space sector, namely those dedicated to earth observation. In this respect, the continent’s space agencies, satellite imagery processing centers, and universities whose curricula concentrate on teaching space sciences and technologies would be called on to cooperate in the areas of telecommunications, remote detection, geographic information systems, and geo-localization. The Algerian President said that Africa “has significant human and natural potentialities” and their mobilization in support of ICT “is an imperative that requires a conjugation of efforts all over the continent.” President Abdelaziz Bouteflika also participated in the Ethiopian capital city, Addis Ababa, on January 30, 2010, in 12th session of the Forum of Heads of State and Government of the African Peer Evaluation Mechanism of the African Union, where he underlined its role and its importance in contributing to the strengthening of good governance to meet the aspirations of African peoples. The President of the Republic took an active part in the part of the proceedings devoted to a review of the annual report submitted by Uganda and Burkina Faso on the implementation of the plan of action produced by the process of thorough evaluation directed at both countries. Mr. Bouteflika lauded “with satisfaction” the efforts and the progress achieved by both countries, as he underlined the significance of the process and its handling by the African countries themselves. He also stated his interest in the developments that have emerged in both countries in the area of prevention of conflicts and the development of good-neighborliness in their immediate area and their respective sub-regions. He called for renewed attention and further reinforcement of the African Peer Evaluation Mechanism (APEM) potential for securing peace and security and preventing conflicts because of its ability to “address this issue in all its dimensions, including dialogue among the peers on the deep and structural causes of tensions, crises and conflicts.” It is worth recalling that, since APEM’s creation, 12 countries have undergone an extensive evaluation and 8 have submitted a report on the implementation of the plan of action generated by the process. Founding member of NEPAD and its evaluation mechanism (APEM), Algeria submitted its report in July 2007 in Accra, Ghana, and its report on the implementation of its plan of action in January 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Both reports were “well received by the Forum of the Heads of State of APEM and continue to foster great interest among African countries.” (Read more ) |
|
|
AU Summit: President Bouteflika leaves for Addis Ababa |
|
|
|
|
[Aps 01/29/10] ALGIERS- President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday has left Algiers for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to partake in the 14th Ordinary Session of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) scheduled from 30th January to 2nd February. The central theme chosen for this session will focus on "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development." The session will also address issues of peace and security in Africa, and in particular the situations in Darfur (Sudan) and Somalia, the latest developments in Guinea and Madagascar, as well integration and economic and social development on the continent. President Bouteflika is also scheduled to attend proceedings of the 22nd Summit of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee and the 12th Summit of the Forum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Death of Mr. Larbi Belkheir
The Ambassador of Algeria to Morocco, H. E. Larbi Belkheir, passed away on January 28, 2010, after a long illness. He was 72. The departed held numerous positions of high responsibility, including Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic and Minister of Interior. |
|
|
The U.S. Air Force wants to strengthen military cooperation with Algeria |
|
|
|
The United States “appreciate Algeria’s leadership in the Maghreb and in the Sahel” and wish to develop a “joint strategy” between the air forces of both countries( El-Moudjahid 01/27/10 )
The U.S. Air Force wants to strengthen and deepen its military cooperation with the Algerian Air Force by developing a “joint strategy”, said Major General Ronald R. “Ron” Ladnier, Commander, 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, with headquarters in Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
On a three-day visit to Algeria, during which he met with Algerian high military officials, General Ladnier declared on January 26 in Algiers that the United States “appreciate the leadership role played by Algeria in the region in the areas of security and the fight against terrorism, which affect numerous countries of the Maghreb and the Sahel”, before adding that “we are ready to work with Algeria to ensure stability and address such challenges.”
Underlining the wish of the United States for “a joint strategy” between the Algerian and American Air Forces, General Ladnier declared that “to be efficient, we should start by developing a strategic vision with Algeria” and that his visit “is to make sure that we are on the same wavelength as we build together an engagement plan for the future.” Recalling that Algeria and the United States are bound by a long history of friendship, that Algeria was one of the first countries to recognize the United States, and that his country was among the first to recognize the independence of Algeria, General Ladnier also indicated that military cooperation between the two countries is currently focused on training, exchange of aircraft technical data and intervention in cases of natural disasters and rescue.” This visit by Major General Ronald R. Ladnier is the third visit to Algeria by a U.S. high military official in less than 3 months and comes on the heels of those of Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and General William E. “Kip” Ward, Commander United States Africa Command. |
|
|
Algeria, Qatar views are convergent |
|
|
|
|
[Aps 01/24/10] ALGIERS - The President of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister of State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabir al Thani , declared Sunday having noticed "convergence of views" between Algeria and Qatar concerning several Arab and international issues. "We have discussed about politics and we have noticed convergence in both countries' views on several questions interesting our Arab region but also the international level," Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim told the press after the talks he had with President of Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
|
|
|
Algeria, Qatar ink 10 agreements and MoUs |
|
|
|
|
[Aps 01/24/10] ALGIERS- The 4th session of the Algerian-Qatari Joint Commission culminated Sunday here in the signing of ten agreements and memorandumsof understandings (MoUs) in the economic, cultural and scientific fields, according to the session's minutes. In this respect, Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and Qatari Minister of Energy and Industry Mohamed Ben Salah signed an agreement for the exemption of diplomatic, special or service passports holders of the two countries from the entry visas. Finance Minister Karim Djoudi and Qatari Energy and Industry Minister also inked a memorandum of understanding on quality norms and regulations. |
|
|
Algeria, EU "privileged partner," says Spanish ambassador |
|
|
|
|
[Aps 01/24/10] ALGIERS- Algeria is a "privileged partner" of the European Union (EU) in the Arab Maghreb region, in the Mediterranean space, in the Sahel and in the Middle East, declared January 24 in Algiers H.E Gabriel Busquets, the Ambassador of Spain, whose country takes up the EU rotating presidency for six months. The "EU wants to accompany Algeria in its transition, pursue political dialogue, encourage energy partnership and enhance cooperation, chiefly in terms of facilities of energy, commerce, fight against terrorism and illegal immigration," the Spanish diplomat told El Moudjahid forum.
|
| |
|
|
Angola 2010: Desert Foxes so close to reaching Africa's top |
|
|
|
|
[Aps 01/25/10] CABINDA (Angola)- The Algerian national soccer team beat all odds by qualifying hands down for the semi-finals of the 27th Africa Cup of Nations, beating Cote d'Ivoire 3-2 in overtime on January 24 at the Chiazi National Stadium of Cabinda (northern Angola). Twenty years after their only African title won in 1990 at home, Karim Ziani's teammates have made it to the last four of the competition with the ambition of snatching the title eventually. By beating the best African team of the moment, and the number one favorites for the title, the Algerians have indeed displayed great character and determination to deal with any team whatever their status.
|
|
|
