| FORMER PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO THE HONORABLE ARCHIVE |
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PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WRITTEN REMARKS PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. AMINE KHERBI AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA Mr. President, It is indeed a great honor and a privilege for me to present to you the Letters of Credence by which the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria His Excellency Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika accredits me to Your Excellency as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Allow me also to hand to you the Letters of Recall of my predecessor, Ambassador Idriss Jazairy. I avail myself of this opportunity to convey to you the warmest regards and best wishes of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who highly appreciates your availability and your willingness to pursue and develop the productive dialogue that you have established with him in July 2001 with the aim of setting the framework of a renovated and lasting partnership between the United States of America and Algeria. The numerous meetings that you have had over the past few years with President Bouteflika have given a concrete expression to our mutual interests while translating into facts the spirit of entente, understanding and solidarity that exists between our two countries. Today, I am starting a challenging mission in Washington. Fortunately, it takes place at a time when relations between the United States of America and Algeria are experiencing a positive evolution and opening new horizons to cooperation between our two countries. I note with pleasure the growing convergence of views that the United States of America and Algeria share on bilateral, regional and international issues. Mr. President, Our cooperation in the fight against terrorism is progressing in a satisfactory manner. We are both convinced that this fight must be led on a global scale because no single country or region of the world can alone insure its security. Our two countries have played an important role in promoting international cooperation against terrorism. They are also convinced that such a fight, which must square with a commitment to the defense of human rights and the consolidation of democracy, must appropriately meet the security and development needs of all peoples. These are common objectives which could lead us to further conjugate our efforts in order to strengthen the global mobilization against terrorism. In this context, I am pleased to note that the State Department in its last report on terrorism recognizes that “Algeria continued strong support for US counter-terrorism efforts and demonstrated its overall support of the global war on terror.” Mr. President, Algeria’s fight against terrorism is inseparable from its solidarity with its partners. She is all the more aware of the importance of such solidarity that, for over a decade, my country had faced, alone, an abject terrorism. Today, while continuing its fight against terrorism, my country is engaged in a process of renovation and national reconciliation with the objective of building an appeased, tolerant and modern society. Algeria’s efforts to promote democratic values and good governance reflect its deep conviction that these are determining factors for a sustained economic and social development enterprise which enables all citizens to enjoy the benefits of growth and favors, namely, better access by women to health, education, and training, giving them the opportunity to play a greater role in society. The good economic results reached over the past five years strengthen our willingness to further deepen the reforms and to consolidate market economy and free enterprise. Mr. President, My country is now at the center of an area of stability where U.S. investments can prosper. It ranks second in the Arab region and in Africa by order of importance as host to US investments, mostly in the petroleum sector. Algeria is an important supplier of liquefied natural gas and petroleum products to the United States. Accordingly, we are partners involved in the security of America’s energy supply. I would also like to underline the periodic visits at all levels between officials of our two governments to discuss trade and investment and opportunities to enhance cooperation between our two countries. Several bilateral agreements are in the process of being finalized. In this regard, allow me to express the appreciation of my Government for the assistance provided by the US Administration in funding, through the Middle East Partnership Initiative, several programs allocated to support Algeria's economic reforms and institutional capacity building. Our two countries are also working together in the context of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative and have launched a promising joint military dialogue. We have now entered a qualitatively new phase in our relations which will be characterized by the richness and diversity of our joint ventures. Mr. President, What Algeria has to offer is the example of a country that has charted its path toward democracy not for the purpose of yielding to outside admonitions but because this is what the Algerian people demanded, as was the case for independence and freedom during times of foreign occupation. Supporting Algeria’s progress along this path is crucial for long term stability of the Maghreb and Africa and for the fundamental interests of the United States. Progress towards the consolidation of democracy and the deepening of reforms are predicated on basic values shared by our two countries. Similarly, in the global context, our common objective is to widen the dominion of justice, equity, peace and development, and to work together for a better organized international society and more stable and secure world. Such convergence, added to the tradition of mutual esteem and trust as well as a common perception of the challenges and stakes that characterize our time are themselves sound foundations for the strategic partnership to be established between our two countries. Mr. President, The prospects of furthering the relations between the United States of America and Algeria are indeed very promising. I wish to solemnly assure you that during my tenure of office I shall spare no effort to the best of my ability in working with your Administration to expand ongoing bilateral activities and open new areas of cooperation and concerted actions at regional and international levels. Finally, I would like to express to you my gratitude and my sincere appreciation for making me and my family feel welcome at the White House and by extension in the United States. May 26, 2005 |