Prospects for the Algerian-American Relations

Presentation by

H.E. ABDALLAH BAALI

 

Ambassador of Algeria to the United States of America

To the

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Houston, Texas

March 26, 2009

I am delighted to be here in Houston for what I hope will be a lively discussion of the Algerian-American relations. Before that, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Council on Foreign Relations for their kind invitation and for giving me the opportunity to address such a distinguished audience. I am looking forward to exchanging views with you and sharing some insights on the promises of the Algerian-American relationship opportunities and its prospects for establishing a stronger, richer, more diverse, and durable strategic partnership between Algeria and the United States.

Contrary to trading on the stock market, the Algerian-American relationship has presented far fewer fluctuations and has been steadily pointing upward since the two countries established diplomatic ties. Not that there were no bumps on the road. Like any relationship, this one has had some, as it did in the 70s. But this relationship has weathered any misunderstandings and is now promised to a great future because of its foundations of friendship and genuinely shared interests and values.

Earlier this month, in his reply to a congratulatory message from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President Barack Obama assured his Algerian counterpart of his willingness to work with him “in a spirit of peace and friendship to build a safer world.” The words chosen by the US President fit perfectly with the essence of Algerian-American ties that have indeed been characterized by friendship since George Washington was President of the United States. Indeed, on September 5, 1795, two years before John Adams’ election, our two nations signed in Algiers the first of three famous Algerian-American accords, the Treaty of Amity and Friendship.

Today, our relations are inspired and strengthened by the same spirit of friendship that animated the leaders of those times. Our ties are also more vivid and much stronger because Algeria and the United States share a lot more than friendship. Indeed, as reflected by their respective histories, our nations similarly share a deep love of justice and a strong sense of freedom and both their peoples have stood up to defend their sovereignty and liberty whenever they were threatened. Both countries have also supported each other in the name of the very principles that guided their revolutions. John F. Kennedy, then a young senator, spoke out passionately in support of Algeria’s independence when my country was still under French colonialism while, in 1979, Algeria invested the skills and capacities of its diplomacy to secure the freedom of 52 Americans held hostage in Iran.

Algeria is a genuine and committed friend of the United States of America

We say “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Since September 11, 2001, Algeria has been demonstrating through action that it is indeed a friend of America. First among other friends and allies, it stood by the United States and publicly condemned the terrorist attacks led against this country. Since then, Algeria’s support to combat terrorism has been steadfast, genuine and exemplary, in the words of US counterterrorism experts. For their part, the highest authorities of this country did not fail to express the gratitude of the United States to Algeria “for its abiding and outstanding cooperation and unique perspective in the global fight against terrorism”. In another demonstration of the close cooperation between our two countries, three months after an earlier visit, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika visited the White house in November 2001 to underline once again Algeria’s friendship, support, and total commitment after the September 11 attacks.

Algeria is a stable country with immense economic and human potentialities

It is now an established fact that Algeria, which strongly believes that security is  inseparable from development, stands as a unique case of how to lead a successful fight against the transnational scourge of terrorism while, at the same time, undertaking strong and ambitious political, economic and social reforms and solidify the rule of law. During the Nineties, Algeria suffered a full frontal assault from terrorist groups determined to wreck havoc and inflict unimaginable human suffering and economic damage. It faced that assault on its own, relied on its own resources and creativity, stood tall and fought back, demonstrating day in and day out the determination of its people and leaders to fight for freedom and democracy.

That same determination is visible now as Algeria pursues its implementation of a major enterprise of national recovery with the aim of accelerating the democratic process and deepening economic reforms. It has been successfully implementing a comprehensive strategy with the aim of establishing a stable and appeased society where fundamental liberties are guaranteed and protected. Focused on strengthening the institutional, operational and economic capacities of the country, this strategy also concentrates on consolidating social peace, through policies such as national reconciliation.

Today, Algeria enjoys real political plurality, an active and ambitious civil society, and a vibrant press. The presidential election scheduled for next April 9 is an eloquent demonstration of the country’s stability and progress in implementing democratic practices. The candidate lineup is also evidence of Algeria’s innovative and, many have said, courageous policies: A woman is competing against five men candidate for the country’s presidency. A first in the Arab world. The candidate, Mrs. Louisa Hanoune has led the Workers’ Party since it was established, thereby demonstrating that, in Algeria, women enjoy equal opportunity in the workplace, have equal access to education, and can be as ambitious as men. The sky is the limit.

Another aspect of the new face of Algeria is the multitude of infrastructure projects being implemented throughout the second-largest country in Africa, the millions of schoolboys and girls, and the mushrooming housing programs are the symbols of the new Algeria. They show a country hard at work, determined to build a better, prosperous and safer future for its people. It is also a country whose efforts to institutionalize the practice of democracy, the rule of law and good governance have earned it the praise from numerous independent international bodies.

This is a genuine and accurate depiction of the reality of Algeria, a country endowed with immense human and resource potentialities, committed to stability and security in its region, on its continent, and elsewhere around the world, all the while keeping a vigilant watch against transnational terrorism.

Algeria is an important partner of the United States

Relations between Algeria and the United States have entered a new, dynamic and very promising phase and are stronger than ever. Our countries enjoy strong economic relations as well.  They share great convergence of views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. The Algerian-American relationship enjoys a strong economic and political foundation that we wish to consolidate through more significant security and military cooperation, increased dialogue and greater concertation with the goal of establishing a mutually desired strong and durable strategic partnership.

Today, Algeria is the first trading partner of the United States in North Africa and the second in Africa and the Arab world and provides investments conditions that are now better than ever and would allow American businesses to expand rapidly. For the fourth consecutive year, the United States have been Algeria’s top trade customer with a record level of almost $20 billion and were in 4th position among its suppliers. Second recipient after Saudi Arabia of US investments made in the hydrocarbon sector in the Arab world, Algeria is an important and reliable provider of petroleum and liquefied natural gas to the United States. With plans already under way to expand our current share from 5% to 20% of the US market by the Year 2015, Algeria plays an increasingly significant role in ensuring the security of America’s energy supply.

While trade exchanges between our two countries reached about $22 billion last year and are promises to grow even more, they continue to be almost exclusively – and I would add, unfortunately - focused on hydrocarbons, however. This is a state of things that we have been determined to change dramatically by putting forth the enormous potentialities offered by Algeria in terms of resources and market value, on the one hand, and the opportunities for profit and business expansion available to investors, on the other.

Algeria plays a central role in North Africa, the Arab world, Africa and the Mediterranean

At the regional level, Algeria supports strong and effective cooperation and promotes the essential role and contribution of bodies such as the African Union. It is aware that development challenges in the context of fast-paced globalization can only be met in the framework of concerted action and strategic partnership. This vision translates into its commitment toward the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), of which it is one of the main initiators. NEPAD provided the framework for launching a large number of regional and sub-regional infrastructure development projects, such as NIGAL which involves the construction of a gas pipeline linking Nigeria to the Mediterranean coast or laying fiber optics cables to improve telecommunication services.

Algeria is also a relentless promoter of cooperation in its immediate area. For Algeria, the Maghrebi integration is a strategic option based on its policy of good-neighborliness, founded on the principles of sovereignty of peoples, independence of states, and respect of international legality. In the Arab world and in the Mediterranean Basin, it actively participates in the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue, pursues dynamic relations with NATO, and maintains strong political and economic ties with Europe.
Algeria and the United States are eager to capitalize on their shared interests

This may sound like a teacher’s remark to a student with great potential but unsatisfactory performance: Algeria and the United States have tremendous potentialities at their disposal and they definitely can do better than what they have achieved so far.

While my country deeply values the pledge made by many high US officials to continue to be strong partners and to support Algeria as it continues on the path of transformational reform, and while my country is deeply committed, just as it believes the US Government is, to fostering stronger and closer relations between us, it is convinced there is a whole lot more that Algeria and the United States can do together.

The Algerian-American relationship can certainly and greatly benefit from increased political concertation, greater American footprint in all sectors of the Algerian economy and its wide array of development projects, greater sensitivity towards the reality on the ground in Algeria and in its neighborhood.

Our relations hold tremendous potentialities and the promise for a larger and greatly consolidated relationship. Both our Governments are fully committed to taking their bilateral ties to a higher level and to give them the special character and quality that they deserve for the benefit of the Algerian and the American peoples.

Thank you very much.