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President Bouteflika chairs a ceremony honoring Algerian women
ALGIERS- The President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika chaired on March 8, 2010, a ceremony honoring Algerian women, on the occasion of International Women's Day. This ceremony was marked by the presence of women war veterans (Moudjahidate), women parliamentary members, intellectuals and civil society members. On the eve of the celebration of this day, President Bouteflika announced in a message to Algerian women, his decision to "increase the percentage of women in the Council of the Nation and to start application of Article 31 Bis of the Constitution which provides increasing women’s political participation in both elected assemblies." "We are working continuously and with the same determination on the elaboration of a legal basis devoted to the creation of a national centre for studies, information, documentation about family, woman, and childhood," the President added. Additionally, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika addressed a message of congratulations to the Algerian women on the occasion of the celebration of International Women's Day. To read the President's speech, click here President BOUTEFLIKA meets with Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs(Ministry for Foreign Affairs – March 7, 2010)The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, met on Sunday, March 7, 2010, with Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr. Bernard Kamilius Membe. The meeting was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Mourad MDELECI and by Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader MESSAHEL. The Tanzanian Presidential Special Envoy Mr. Membe arrived in Algiers on March 6, 2010. Création du forum des femmes algériennes dans le monde[Aps - 05/03/10] ALGER - Un forum regroupant les femmes algériennes établies à l'étranger leur permettant d'apporter leur contribution dans le développement de leur pays d'origine vient d'être crée à Alger, a indiqué jeudi le ministre de la Solidarité nationale, de la Famille et de la Communauté nationale à l'étranger, Djamel Ould Abbès. La création du Forum des femmes algériennes dans le monde (FFAM) s'inscrit dans le cadre de l'application d'une des recommandations adoptées lors des travaux de la 2e université permanente de la communauté nationale établie à l'étranger, organisée à El-Oued, a précisé le ministre lors d'une cérémonie organisée en présence de femmes algériennes établies à l'étranger. Communiqué du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères au sujet de la situation au Chili(MAE - mardi 02 mars 2010) Malgré l’intensité des dommages sur les structures, on n’a relevé, heureusement, aucun blessé au sein de notre communauté. Le Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, avec l'appui des ambassades algériennes à Santiago et à Buenos Aires, continue de suivre attentivement les développements de cette situation. Foreign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelci in Geneva to attend 13th session of UN Human Rights CouncilForeign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelci is leading a large official delegation to the proceedings of the high-level meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which started on February 28 in Geneva, Switzerland. Held once a year, the meeting is an opportunity for high level officials from various countries to address the Council and discuss human rights issues of interest to their respective governments. Mr. Medelci is slated to take the floor to review namely the progress achieved by Algeria over the past year in the area of promotion and protection of human rights. He is also scheduled to meet on the margins of the meeting with various foreign counterparts and UN high officials, including Mrs. Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It should also be noted that earlier last week Algeria had hosted at its request the informal advisory meeting on the review of operating and working methods of the Human Rights Council. The meeting was the first held in a developing country. Algeria and the Sultanate of Oman determined to strengthen their relations in various areasMinistry of Foreign Affairs – February 25, 2010 Meeting in the Omani capital of Muscat from February 21 to February 24, the Joint Algerian-Omani Commission underlined its determination to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas. In a final communiqué issued February 24 after the end of the proceedings of the 5th session of the Joint Algerian-Omani Commission, the two parties reaffirmed their determination to strengthen their cooperation to achieve the goals set by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, and Sultan QABOOS IBN SAID, namely by striving to “strengthen the bilateral relations in various areas to the best of the interests of the two peoples and their aspirations for greater coordination and complementarity.” Co-presided by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mourad MEDELCI and his Omani counterpart Mr. Youssef BEN ALAOUI BENABDELLAH, the session was sanctioned by the signing of an agreement on maritime transport and another between the press agencies of both countries as well as by two memorandums on standards and quality and on agriculture. The two sides have also signed the minutes of the 5th Joint Algerian-Omani Cooperation Commission. Furthermore, the two sides reviewed regional and international issues of mutual interest and in that respect affirmed their “convergence of views.” The two sides hailed the Arab process of common action engaged in the framework of the charter and the agreements of the League of Arab States and expressed their “satisfaction in view of the level of cooperation and the coordination between the two countries in various areas” and underlined the importance of “pursuing and consolidating that cooperation to the best of the interests of the two peoples in different areas.” Referring to the relations of bilateral cooperation, the two sides expressed their satisfaction of the high level reached by those relations and stated their willingness to forge ahead and strengthen the process of cooperation in all political, economic, trade, industrial and development areas as well as the sectors of education, teaching, information, culture, agriculture, sea resources, human resources, and social development and to open new prospects for this cooperation, in conformity with the aspiration of their leaderships and the ambitions of their two peoples.” Statement made on February 23, 2010, by the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the release of terrorists by the Government of MaliThe Government of Algeria has decided to recall for consultation its Ambassador in Bamako, following the decision of the Government of Mali to release four terrorists it was holding, under the deceptive claim that they had been tried and had served their sentence. The Government of Algeria vigorously condemns and denounces this unfriendly attitude by the Government of Mali which has shown its disregard for the bilateral Convention on judicial cooperation signed by the two countries and on the basis of which Algeria had requested in September 2009 and once again in February 2010 the extradition of two Algerian citizens wanted for prosecution for terrorist acts. The Government of Algeria underlines that the decision reached by the Government of Mali is in violation of pertinent and binding United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral, regional and international commitments in the fight against terrorism. The Government of Algeria recalls that the decision of the Government of Mali to release terrorists wanted by neighboring countries is a dangerous development for security and stability in the Sahel-Sahara region and objectively serves the interests of the terrorist group active in the region under the banner of Al Qaeda. President Bouteflika meets with Syrian vice president[Aps 02/17/10] President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika met, on February 17, 2010, in Algiers, with Syrian Vice President Farouk Al Shara, on visit to Algeria. The audience was attended by People's National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker Abdelaziz Ziari, Minister of State and Personal Representative of the President of the Republic Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and Minister delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel. The Syrian Vice President, who arrived in Algiers the previous day, also held talks with Mr.Abdelaziz Belkhadem. Le Président BOUTEFLIKA reçoit le ministre saoudien de l'Intérieur(MAE-mercredi 10 février 2010) MM. Abdelkader Bensalah, président du Conseil de la Nation, Abdelaziz Ziari, président de l'Assemblée populaire nationale, Boualem Bessaih, président du Conseil constitutionnel, Ahmed OUYAHIA, Premier ministre, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, ministre de l'Intérieur et des Collectivités locales, Mourad MEDELCI, ministre des Affaires étrangères, Karim Djoudi, ministre des Finances, et Mohamed Cherif Abbas, ministre des Moudjahidine, ont assisté à l'audience. In Addis Ababa, President Bouteflika hails the African Peer Evaluation Mechanism and underlines the vital significance of information and communication technologies for African developmentSpeaking 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 BelkheirThe 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. Algeria, Qatar views are convergent[Aps 01/24/10] "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. Professor Nourreddine Amir reelected to the United Nations Committee for the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination( 01/22/10 ) A statement released by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the reelection of Mr. Amir with such a large score within a human rights monitoring body represents an additional testimony of the credit enjoyed by Algeria within the United Nations.” Algeria voices sympathy and readiness to provide full assistance for Haiti[Aps 01/21/10] "Algeria assured Haitian President Rene Preval of its sympathy and readiness to provide full assistance, expressing Algerian people's profound emotion following the dreadful disaster," underlined the statement. Le Président BOUTEFLIKA signe plusieurs décrets portant ratification de conventions et d'accords internationaux[APS 13/01/10] Le Président de la République, M. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, a signé, conformément à l'article 77-11 de la Constitution, plusieurs décrets portant ratification de conventions et d'accords internationaux. Il s'agit de : * La convention de coopération dans le domaine de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche scientifique et de la technologie entre le gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le gouvernement de la République tunisienne, signée à Tunis le 4 décembre 2008. * L'accord commercial préférentiel entre le gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le gouvernement de la République tunisienne, signé à Tunis le 4 décembre 2008. * L'accord entre le gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le gouvernement de la République fédérative du Brésil dans le domaine de la marine marchande, signé à Alger le 8 février 2006. * La convention entre le gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le Conseil des ministres de la Bosnie-Herzégovine en vue d'éviter les doubles impositions et prévenir l'évasion fiscale en matière d'impôts sur le revenu et sur la fortune, signée à Alger le 8 février 2009. * L'accord de coopération entre le gouvernement de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire et le gouvernement de la République islamique de Mauritanie, dans le domaine des relations avec le Parlement, signé à Alger le 2 juin 2008. Chinese FM starts two-day visit to Algeria(01/11/10) Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Yang Jiechi arrived Sunday in Algiers for a two-day visit, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci. Yang Jiechi was received at his arrival at Houari-Boumediene international airport by Medelci. During this visit, a protocol of economic cooperation and an agreement on legal aid in civilian and commercial issues will signed, the FM said. It falls under the framework of "reinforcement of friendship and cooperation relations" linking both countries and allow them to examine the bilateral cooperation. The two ministers will also broach the regional and international common –interest questions. "The excellent relations that tie Algeria and China give this visit particular importance and aspect in view of more consolidation and diversification of their bilateral cooperation as well as closest coordination of their initiatives ate the multilateral level," the same official concluded. (Read More ) Algeria-Libya: Priority to trade(01/11/10) Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel stressed Sunday in Algiers that the sixth session Algerian-Libyan Follow-up Committee has given priority to trade between the two countries. Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony for the signing of the Algerian-Libyan Follow-up Committee meeting's minutes, Messahel said the committee developed a working paper for the year 2010 aiming at "boosting commercial exchanges between the two countries." In this respect, he announced that a work team, made up of technicians from trade and customs sectors, will start working next week to make "proposals to facilitate bilateral trade." Algerian-Libyan Follow-up Committee, he added, "has managed to find solutions to pending issues" in terms of investment. In addition to the investment issue, the committee tackled a series of detailed projects relating to the fields of agriculture, hydraulics and infrastructures, underlining the possibility of extending cooperation to energy, scientific research, information and communication technologies and industry. The minister said the Algerian-Libyan Follow-up Committee meeting's outcome will be submitted to the 13th joint executive committee meeting, due to be held next February in Tripoli. (Read More ) Visite du Président BOUTEFLIKA à Madrid COMMUNIQUE DU CONSEIL DES MINISTRES Le Comité de suivi de l'UMA tient sa 46ème session à Tripoli(12/30/09) Le Comité de suivi des pays de l'Union du Maghreb arabe (UMA) a tenu, lundi à Tripoli (Libye), sa 46ème session dans le cadre des préparatifs de la 29ème session du Conseil des ministres des Affaires étrangères de l'Union. M. MEDELCI se rend à Tripoli(12/30/09) M. MEDELCI reçoit le ministre iranien de l'Habitat et du Développement des villes(12/30/09) Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, M. Mourad MEDELCI, a reçu mercredi à Alger le ministre iranien de l'Habitat et du Développement des villes, M. Ali Nikzad. Le Président BOUTEFLIKA se rend à Copenhague(12/30/09) Le Président de la République, M. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, s'est rendu, mercredi, à Copenhague, à la tête de la délégation algérienne pour prendre part au sommet sur les changements climatiques. M. OUYAHIA reçoit le ministre portugais de la Défense(12/30/09) Le Premier ministre, M. Ahmed OUYAHIA, a reçu mercredi le ministre portugais de la Défense, M. Augusto Santos Silva, en visite en Algérie. M. MESSAHEL remet un message du Président BOUTEFLIKA au Président soudanaislundi 21 décembre 2009
 Hooray for “Les Verts”, our national soccer team! (18/11/09) Similarly to all Algerians, the staff of the Embassy followed with a lot of enthusiasm the decisive 2010 Soccer World Cup qualification game opposing in Khartoum, Sudan, our national soccer team and the Egyptian squad. Following the resounding victory scored by “Les Verts”, the Ambassador of Algeria in Washington and the entire staff of the Embassy extend their warmest congratulations to the players and their coaching team and wish them further success in future games. In celebration of this historic victory, the Ambassador of Algeria gave a reception at the Embassy attended by many members of the community. Le personnel de l’Ambassade a pu suivre, à l’instar de tous les Algériens, avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme la rencontre décisive qu’a jouée notre équipe nationale de football à Khartoum contre la sélection égyptienne pour la qualification à la coupe du Monde de Football. Suite à la victoire retentissante des verts, l’Ambassadeur d’Algérie à Washington et l’ensemble des diplomates et employés de l’Ambassade félicitent chaleureusement les joueurs et dirigeants des Fennecs et leur souhaitent plus de réussite lors des prochains rendez-vous. A cette occasion, une collation a eu lieu au siège de l’Ambassade en présence de membres de la communauté pour célébrer cette victoire historique. Pour voir les photos cliquer ici Le Président de la République reçoit l'équipe nationale de football Algeria, Argentina ink three cooperation agreements and additional protocol ALGIERS- Three cooperation agreements and an additional protocol have been inked on Monday, 17 November 2008, here by Algeria and Argentina, in the presence of President of Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his Argentinean counterpart Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The first agreement is relating to the development and the peaceful nuclear energy use has been signed by Chakib Khelil, Algerian Energy and Mining Minister and Julio de Vido, Argentinean Minister for Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services. An agreement of cooperation and experience sharing between the Algerian news agency, Algerie Presse Service (APS), and the Argentinean one, Telam, as well as another agreement on public health and medical sciences have been signed during the same ceremony. Argentine firms invited to acquire shares in Algerian public companies
He cited, for instance, the companies working in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, agrobusiness, metal or fertilizer industries which, according to him, are more in need of better management than of financial resources. Algeria-Argentina resolute to strengthen cooperation in all the areas
"We have signed numerous cooperation agreements, but what is more important is that President Bouteflika and I have made our decision and expressed our intention to expand our relations and strengthen our cooperation in all the areas, particularly in those for which we have not signed agreements yet," said Kirchner in a statement to the media following her talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. ALGERIA'S PARLIAMENT OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVES CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMSWith 500 votes in favor, 21 against and 8 abstentions, the Algerian Parliament overwhelmingly approved on November 12, 2008, a series of five amendments to the 1996 Constitution that were submitted earlier this month for validation by the Constitutional Council. In the joint parliamentary session, broadcast live on Algerian television, a clear majority among the 389 members of the National Assembly and the 144 senators of the upper House of the Parliament, or Council of the Nation, approved the draft submitted in early November by the Council of Ministers. The proposal involved the review of five constitutional articles dealing, respectively, with the following: protection of the national emblem and the national anthem as immutable conquests of the Glorious November Revolution of November 1, 1954 (Article 5); promotion and preservation of the country’s history as the heritage of all Algerians (Article 62); promotion of the political rights of women through better representation in public institutions (Article 31bis); fully enshrining the sovereign right of the people to freely choose its leaders and exercise that right through its established institutions (Article 74); reorganization, clarification, and precision of relations between the components of executive power, including the appointment by the President of the Republic of a Prime Minister possibly supported by one or several Vice-Prime ministers (Article 77), the role of the Prime Minister as Head of the Government in charge of implementing the President’s program (Article 79), and the Prime Minister being accountable to the People’s National Assembly, which may accept or reject the Prime Minister’s Program of Action (Articles 80 and 81). The proposed amendments relating to the internal organization of executive power shall help further clarify the mission of the Government (implementation of the President’s program) and preserve fully the controlling power of the Parliament over the Government. To read the whole text of the constitution, Please click here (Arabic , French ) |
