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 President Bouteflika for the establishment of viable Arab economic and agricultural system

(APS 04/28/10)

President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika has called on for the drawing up of "a strategy for the food-processing industry" to establish "a viable Arab economic, technological, industrial and agricultural system" likely to help the integration into the global economy.

In a message to the participants in the 31st session of the Arab Organization for the Agricultural Development (AOAD), read on his behalf by Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Minister of State and President of the Republic's Personal Representative, the Head of State insisted on the urgent need to strengthen regional cooperation so as to master the new knowledge and technologies that would enable Arab countries to make better choices, especially in terms of priority actions and appropriate solutions to problems relating to the agricultural field. 

Abdelkader Messahel in Toronto for G8, G5+3 meeting

Minister Delegate in charge of Maghreb and African Affairs Mr Abdelkader Messahel will take part in the meeting of the personal representatives of the heads of State and Government of G8 and G5+3 countries, to be held April 28 and 29 in Toronto (Canada). The consultation meeting is the second, after that held in Addis Ababa on January 25, the Canadian presidency of the G8 organizes in preparation for Africa segment of next G8 summit.

5+5 dialogue : conference on "environment and renewable energies" held in Oran

Mr Cherif Rahmani Minister of country planning, environment, and tourism who heads the conference on "environment and renewable energies", held in Oran (Algeria), jointly with his Spanish counterpart Elena Espinosa Mangana, said three cooperation tracks on environment were proposed by Algeria to 5+5 dialogue member countries. The first proposal is the setting up of a Mediterranean observatory for sustainable development in order to "improve knowledge on models on Mediterranean sea". Algeria proposed to host this observatory’s activities in a Mediterranean garden of 40 hectares on Oran’s coast, the minister said.

 Minister of Finance Karim Djoudi in Washington for IMF-World Bank Spring meeting

Minister of Finance Karim Djoudi is heading the Algerian delegation attending the proceedings of the Joint IMF-World Bank Spring Meeting to be held in Washington on April 24 and 25, 2010. Mr. Djoudi, who also represents Algeria as Governor within the World Bank Group, is leading the delegation taking part in the meeting of the International Monetary Issues and G24 Development Inter-Governmental Group as well as in the meeting of the Development Committee of the World Bank.

The Washington agenda for the Algerian Minister of Finance also includes meetings of the Arab and African World Bank Governors with World Bank President Mr. Robert Zoellick. The discussions will deal with issues related to reform of voting and representation for developing countries and for countries in transition, as well as the reforms of international financial institutions already being implemented within the Bretton woods institutions. A source close to the delegation declared that climate change would also be covered during the meeting.

On the margins of the joint IMF-World Bank meeting, Mr. Djoudi will also hold talks with several counterparts and officials from both international financial institutions.

Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Niger set up joint operation staff committee on april 21 in Tamanrasset

A joint operational staff committee, made up of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, has been installed on april 21, in Tamanrasset (1,970 km south of Algiers) in a bid to strengthen military and security cooperation among those countries, a National Defences ministry's communiqué disclosed. The set up of the committee is part of the measures taken jointly, by the army chiefs of  staff of those countries, during the meeting held on 12 and 13 August 2009 in Tamanrasset, the source stressed. 

 Gas Exporting Countries Forum members agreed on indexing gas price to that of oil

( APS - 4/19/2010 )

The members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) agreed today (04/19) in Oran to continue their efforts to index gas price to that of oil, said Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko. "The final statement was unanimously approved. All minister of the GECF's member states agreed on meeting the objective of indexing gas price to that of oil," Mr Shamatko underlined at the end of Gas Exporting Countries Forum's 10 th session.

LNG-16 Conference opens today (04/19) in Oran (Algeria)

( APS - 4/19/2010 ) 

The 16th International Conference on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG-16) opens today (04/19) in Oran (432km west of Algiers) in the presence of delegates from different countries, regional and international organizations and energy groups. Initially planned for April 18, the three-yearly event inauguration has been postponed due to the disturbances on air traffic from and to Europe, caused by the ash cloud blasted by the Icelandic volcano and pushed by winds to almost all Western Europe. Inauguration of LNG-16 was delayed to allow larger number of participants to take part in this conference, notably after the gradual reopening of some European airspaces, the organisers said.

Statement released by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the Competitive Examinations giving access to the Corps of Foreign Affairs Attachés and Secretaries

(Ministry for Foreign Affairs)

Out of consideration for openness and transparency, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs wishes to make the following clarifications:

1. In conformity with Decree No. 221-09 dated June 24, 2009, establishing the status of diplomatic and consular agents, the Ministry, in consultation with the General Directorate for Civil Service, opened access to the Corps of Foreign Affairs Secretaries (73 positions available) and Attachés (76 positions available) by outside candidates through two competitive examinations.
 
2. The final list of 3,158 candidates meeting the requirements was established in keeping with applicable regulations and procedures and was forwarded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), the examination center designated by the General Directorate for Civil Service to hold these selective examinations.
 
3. Unfortunately, in view of the results for the written tests calculated by the examination center (ENA), only five (05) candidates for the positions of Foreign Affairs Secretaries and twenty-two (22) candidates for the positions of Foreign Affairs Attachés have obtained the minimal required average grade of 10/20 that makes them eligible to take the admission oral tests required by the General Directorate for Civil Service.
 
4. The examinations were administered in total conformity with all applicable regulations granting to the General Directorate for Civil Service exclusive competence to determine the required conditions for organizing and holding such competitive examinations.

  Intense diplomatic activity in Washington for Mr. Mourad Medelci

El Moudjahid – April 14, 2010


Foreign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelci led an intense diplomatic activity on the margins of the Summit on Nuclear Security convened in Washington.
 
On April 13, Mr. Medelci met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They reviewed the state of the relations between the two countries and expressed their satisfaction with “the quality and density” of those ties and agreed to pursue their efforts to strengthen and develop them further.
 
Furthermore, at the State Department as well, Mr. Medelci held a working session with Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.
 
Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci also attended a working luncheon with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden alongside the other heads of delegation of ten non-aligned countries. The luncheon gave the heads of delegation the opportunity to exchange views on nuclear security as well as on the upcoming Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference scheduled to take place in May in New York.
 
Mr. Medelci also met with several heads of delegation and held talks with a number of his foreign counterparts attending the Washington Summit on Nuclear Security.

 Nuclear Security Summit

 « Algeria has chosen to use atomic energy exclusively for civilian uses »
 


APS – April 13, 2010

Algeria is part of a majority of countries that have chosen to use atomic energy exclusively for civilian ends, including for research and development, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci declared in Washington. “My country considers that securing civil nuclear facilities and materials is a process permanently in need of improvement and strengthening,” stated Mr. Medelci in a declaration made at the Summit on Nuclear Security.
 
In this framework, he recalled that Algeria has adopted legislative, regulatory, and practical measures, mentioning, for instance, its ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Facilities, deposited with the IAEA, as amended by the Conference of States Parties in July 2005 and its adhesion to UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and to the submission of periodic and regular reports on its implementation at the national level.

Chief of Staff of People’s National Army calls for concerted strategy to combat migrating threats

APS – April 13, 2010

Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army (ANP), called yesterday for designing and implementing a “concerted strategy” by the countries of the Sahel-Sahara region to combat migrating threats. Speaking at the opening session of a meeting by the Chiefs of Staff of the countries of the Sahel (Algeria, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Libya, Chad, and Burkina Faso) convened in Algiers with the objective of “promoting security cooperation and coordination and developing together an adequate mechanism to combat terrorism and its connections”, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah said that Algeria “is honored to host this forum of consultation and dialogue aiming to examine collective defense and security issues and to overcome any potential misunderstandings in order to design and implement a concerted strategy to combat migrating threats.” The Chief of Staff of the ANP said that this meeting follows up on the conference held last March by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the countries involved and intends to “coordinate our fight” in order to “enable our respective political authorities to devote their efforts to pursuing economic and social development for the benefit of our peoples.”

Algeria, Vietnam ink eight cooperation agreements and MoUs

Eight cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed by Algeria and Vietnam, on the occasion of the state visit paid by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to the country.
 
Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz and his Vietnamese counterpart Ha Hung Cuong have inked judicial cooperation agreements relating to extradition, civil and commercial matters, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the Justice Ministries of the two countries.
 
Minister of Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Guyen Minh Quang have signed cooperation agreements in veterinary health, plant protection and vegetal quarantine, in addition to a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of fishing and aquaculture. Moreover, Mr Messahel inked with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of sports.

Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to make State Visit to Algeria

APS – April 12, 2010

A statement released today by the Presidency of the Republic indicates that the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, will make a State Visit to Algeria on April 13-15, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The statement said that “This visit translates the ties of friendship and solidarity that unite Algeria and Vietnam and takes place within the tradition of dialogue and consultation at the highest level.”

During his visit, the Vietnamese President will holds talks with President Bouteflika, during which they will “examine the ways and means of strengthening the bilateral relations and promoting Algerian-Vietnamese partnership, namely in the economic, cultural and technical areas, and review regional and international issues of mutual interest,” added the statement.

Algerian-Syrian Higher Joint Commission meets in Algiers

Co-chaired by the Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade, Mrs. Lamia Assi, and Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, the Algerian-Syrian Cooperation Monitoring Committee held a meeting in Algiers on April 9-10, 2010.

This meeting follows up on a previous one held in July 2009 in Algiers and devoted to a mid-review assessment of the implementation of the decisions and recommendations relating to investment development, partnership and trade exchanges reached by the first session of the Higher Joint Cooperation Commission and to the improvement of settlement conditions for the communities established in both countries.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Messahel underlined the significance of increasing joint cooperation projects focused on preserving the interests of both countries and strengthening their national capacities.
Indeed, said the minister, the two countries can avail themselves to several opportunities to pursue cooperation and exchange in the areas of trade, investment, industry, finance, transportation, basic infrastructure, building, urban development, agriculture, and water resources.

Mr. Messahel added that “We aspire to establish real and lasting cooperation based on mutual interest and taking into consideration each country’s specificities, a cooperation which goes beyond cyclical action and aims at establishing real and constructive partnership.” The Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs said this aspiration is “a strong political indication” founded on “the exceptional relations, which unite both sides at the political level” and on “the historic relations” existing between Algeria and Syria.
For her part, the Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade, Mrs. Lamia Assi, expressed her satisfaction with regard to the “excellence” of the relations uniting her country to Algeria and said that the purpose of the meeting of the 2nd session of the Algerian-Syrian Higher Joint Cooperation Commission was “to strengthen those relations and to translate them into concrete form in the economic area.” Mrs. Assi stressed the necessity of a “strategic partnership” to serve the interests of the two countries and stated the significance of diversifying their cooperation, namely in the areas on investment and agriculture.

At the end of the opening session, three committees were installed (Social and Consular Affairs, Economic, Trade, and Financial Affairs, and Reporting).  The Reporting Committee produces reports which will be adopted today and submitted to the 2nd session of the Higher Joint Cooperation Commission.

The meeting of the Monitoring Committee took place in preparation for the 2nd session of the Algerian-Syrian Higher Joint Cooperation Commission, which held its proceedings on April 11 and 12 and was co-chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and his Syrian counterpart, Mr. Mohamed Naji Otri.

The 2nd session concluded with the signature of 25 documents, including conventions, Memorandums of Understanding, Executive Programs, Agreement Protocols, relating the areas of Trade, Finance, Industry, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Industries, transportation, Water Resources, Education, Culture, Communication, Archives, Justice, Tourism, Labor, and Social Affairs.

The Algerian Prime Minister stressed “the remarkable progress” achieved by the cooperation ties between the two countries, since the convening of the first session of the Higher Commission, 15 months ago in Damascus, Syria (October 15-16, 2008). Mr. Ouyahia added that the 25 agreements signed reflect “a very rich” program and both parties have expressed their willingness and commitment to execute it. For his part, the Syrian Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction in view of the outcome of the session, declaring that the proceedings gave rise to “a program for strategic cooperation” in the economic, trade, and social areas. He hailed the “excellent and deep relations” between Algeria and Syria and the “historic ties” between the peoples of the two countries and stressed that “we wish to deepen even further.”

At a joint press conference held after the session’s proceedings, Mr. Ouyahia said the meeting was “a total success” which opens “important prospects for further steps in our bilateral cooperation”.

Moreover, the Syrian Prime Minister met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, Finance Minister Karim Djoudi, Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel, and the State Secretary to the Prime Minister in charge of Communication Azzeddine Mihoubi. 

The Minister for Foreign Affairs represents the President of the Republic at the Washington Summit on Nuclear Security

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mourad Medelci, is representing the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, at the Summit on Nuclear Security, which will convene in Washington on April 12-13 at the initiative of the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama.
The summit will essentially examine the ways and means needed to reinforce international cooperation to ensure security of nuclear material and prevent acts of nuclear terrorism.

Algeria to participate in the Washington Nuclear Security Summit

According to a statement released on April 6 by the White House, 47 countries including the United States will take part in the summit meeting on nuclear security scheduled to take place in Washington on April 12 and 13.
 
Algeria has been invited to participate in this summit which will be attended by, namely, the nuclear powers (United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, Pakistan, and India) and five other Arab countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Morocco). The IAEA, the United Nations, and the European Union will also be represented.
 
On the margins of this summit, President Barack Obama has scheduled bilateral meetings with several of his foreign counterparts.

 Minister of Finance Mr Djoudi represents Algeria in the Crans Montana Forum in Brussels

(El Moudjahid)

Minister of Finance Karim Djoudi is representing Algeria in the Crans Montana Forum in Brussels from April 7 to 9, to discuss African strategy with new European institutions.
 
This forum is entitled "Africa after the London & Pittsburgh G 20s: The New Economic Parameters," a communiqué of the ministry of Finance said. Mr Djoudi delivered a speech during this forum’s proceedings.

Finance Minister Karim Djoudi said : “I consider that, after five years of enforcement of the association agreement, European investments flows are below Algeria’s expectation, mainly those devoted to promoting the diversification of the economy and exports, while this agreement aims at building a global relationship and a win-win partnership that should be reflected by increasing European direct investments in Algeria,”

 Iranian Foreign Minister in Algiers with invitation extended to President Bouteflika to attend G15 Summit Meeting

Ministry for Foreign Affairs – March 31, 2010
 
Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared in Algiers today that he was carrying an invitation extended by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, to attend the G15 summit meeting, scheduled to be held in Tehran soon.
 
Algeria “is one of the major countries of the G15 which has decided to establish programs aimed at strengthening cooperation among the members”, said Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki in a statement to the press upon arriving at Houari Boumedienne international airport.
 
It should be noted that the next G15 summit meeting, currently chaired by Iran, is scheduled for mid-May 2010.
The Iranian minister also indicated that the agenda of his visit to Algeria included preparation of the next meeting of the Algerian-Iranian High Joint Commission. Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki also addressed Algerian-Iranian bilateral relations, calling them “solid”, and said that he will use the opportunity of his visit to “strengthen the relations of cooperation between the two countries in various areas.”
 
His meetings with Algerian officials, he added, will include “an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Arab Maghreb, in Western Sahara, in Africa, in Iran’s neighboring countries, namely Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.”
 
The Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs arrived in Algiers on March 31 for a two-day visit, during which he will hold talks with Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader MESSAHEL.

President of Mexican Senate on a working visit to Algeria

Algerian Press Service (APS) – March 29, 2010
 
The Council of the Nation announced yesterday that Mr. Carlos Navarrete Ruiz, President of the Senate of the United States of Mexico, will start a three-day working visit to Algeria, during which he will hold talks with his Algerian counterpart, Mr. Abdelkader Bensalah, and officials from Algerian state institutions.

Minister of State, Personal Representative of the President of the Republic, Mr. Belkhadem meets with the Secretary General of the AMU

Ministry for Foreign Affairs – March 30, 2010

Mr. Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Minister of State and Personal Representative of the President of the Republic, met on March 29 with Mr. Habib Benyahia, secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU).

In a statement, Mr. Benyahia declared that “this opportunity enabled me to meet with Mr. Belkhadem, with whom I have worked on several occasions, namely at the political and diplomatic levels.”
 
The AMU Secretary General praised Mr. Belkhadem continued support of the fruitful cultural, religious, linguistic and business cooperation between the Maghreb States. He recalled as well that the AMU building process was continuing despite some difficulties and underlined that “we are destined to preserve our Maghrebi unity, in keeping with our optimism for our shared future in the Maghreb and despite the challenges of globalization and other issues.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs on a working visit to South Africa

Ministry for Foreign Affairs – March 30, 2010

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Mourad MEDELCI will start on April 1 a working visit to Pretoria, South Africa, where he is scheduled to co-chair with his South African counterpart, Mrs. Maite Nkoana MASHABANE a meeting assessing Algerian-South African bilateral relations in preparation for the coming convention in Algiers of the 5th session of the High Binational Cooperation Commission placed under the high authority of the two Heads of State.
 
Preceded by a meeting of experts from both countries next March 30 and 31, 2010, the ministerial meeting will be an opportunity to make an exhaustive assessment of bilateral cooperation in various areas and to examine the ways and means to strengthen and expand it, inconformity with guidance from both Presidents Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA and Jacob ZUMA.
 
The conclusions reached by the ministerial meeting will be submitted to the High Binational Cooperation Commission, which is a genuine leverage stimulating bilateral cooperation and already based on strong economic and scientific foundation supporting the excellent political ties which unite the two countries which maintain as well permanent dialogue and consultation on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
 
During his stay in Tshwane (Pretoria), Mr. MEDELCI will have to opportunity to hold talks with his South African counterpart and numerous high officials.

Death of diplomat Omar Benchehida

El Moudjahid – March 29, 2010
 
Diplomat Omar Benchehida passed away on March 28, 2010, after a long illness. He was 71.
 
After taking part in the war for national liberation, Mr. Omar Benchehida enjoyed a long diplomatic career after the country’s independence, namely with postings as Consul in Grenoble, France, Consul General in Tunis, Tunisia, and Ambassador of Algeria to Colombia.
 
In his posting in Colombia, Mr. Benchehida was awarded the “Cross of San Carlos” and was decorated with the Order of the “Simon Bolivar Democracy”.
 
During his career, Mr. Omar Benchehida held several positions of high office at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.

 President Bouteflika meets with UN Special Envoy for Western Sahara

(MAE - 03/24/201)
 
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika met on March 22 in Algiers with Mr. Christopher Ross, UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Western Sahara. The meeting was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci and Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel.

Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates on a working visit to Algeria

Greeted at Houari Boumedienne international airport by his Algerian counterpart Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates arrived in Algiers on March 22 for a one-day visit in Algeria. Leading a large delegation, including the ministers for Foreign Affairs and Economy and Innovation, Mr. Socrates said that his visit is intended “to reinforce political ties with Algeria”, adding that the his country has “very good and even excellent political relations with the Algerian Government and President of the Republic Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is a special friend of mine.” The head of the Portuguese Government said also that “we have come with the intention of strengthening trade between the two countries” and expressed his satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations over the past five years. He added that Portugal’s exports to Algeria have experienced a twofold increase while commercial deficit decreased.

Mr. Socrates is scheduled to meet with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and will co-chair with his Algerian counterpart, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, a business seminar intended “to establish the necessary conditions to give fresh impetus to economic and trade relations between Algeria and Portugal”.

For his part, Mr. Ouyahia called on Algerian and Portuguese companies to contribute to the improvement of relations between the two countries in all areas, including renewable energy “where Algeria is already involved.” He expressed his conviction that the companies will “contribute to increasing the density of relations” between Algeria and Portugal.

The Portuguese Prime Minister spoke of his “satisfaction” to see both countries “continuing to conduct high-level dialogue” and affirmed that they have maintained long and friendly ties “without any disagreement.”

Mauritanian President addresses message to President Bouteflika

(El Moudjahid – March 17, 2010)

Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mrs. Naha Mint Hamdy Ould Mouknass, who met yesterday with the Head of the State, said that has conveyed to President Bouteflika a message from Mauritanian President Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz.
 
The President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, met yesterday with Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mrs. Naha Mint Hamdy Ould Mouknass. In a statement made to the press after her meeting with the President, Mrs. Ould Mouknass declared that her talks with the President of the President “was an opportunity to review the brotherly relations which unite our two brotherly countries” and added that she had been attentive to “the discerning views and guidance expressed by President Bouteflika about the ways of consolidating those ties.”
 
The Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs indicated that she has conveyed a message from Mauritanian President Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz to President Bouteflika who asked her to convey his greetings to President Ould Abdelaziz and his best wishes for “greater progress and prosperity.”
 
The Mauritanian minister also underlined that she has held talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Mourad Medelci on ways to “energize the bilateral relations and their development for the benefit of the two countries and the two brotherly peoples, in keeping with the guidance provided by the leaders of the two countries.”
 
 

Algeria-Turkey cooperation: draft agreement and MOU signed

[Aps 12/3/10]

ALGIERS- the 9th session of Algeria-Turkey joint commission for economic, scientific and technical cooperation ended on Thursday afternoon by signing a draft agreement and a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding concerns communication whereas the draft agreement concerns agriculture sector. Other agreements are also under negotiations and concern standardisation and social insurance, according to the Algerian delegation. The ending ceremony of this two day session was chaired by Chakib Khelil Minister of Energy and Mines and Cedvet Yilmaz Turkish State Minister in Charge of Planning.    

 Algeria-NATO

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)
 
Dés l’annonce de la nouvelle du violent tremblement de terre qui a touché le Chili et dont l’épicentre se situe entre les villes de Conception et de Santiago du Chili, l’ambassade d'Algérie à Santiago, en coordination avec les services concernés du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et malgré les difficultés de communication dues à la rupture des réseaux, a pu prendre attache individuellement avec les ressortissants algériens immatriculés et résidents.

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 Council


Foreign 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 areas

Ministry 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 Mali

The 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.
In view of these dangerous developments for the security and stability of the Sahel-Sahara region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Ambassador of Mali to demand explanations regarding this decision of the Government of Mali.

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)
 
Le Président de la République, M. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, a reçu, mercredi à la résidence d'Etat de Zéralda (Alger), le ministre saoudien de l'Intérieur, le prince Nayef ben Abdelaziz Al-Saoud.

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 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.

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.

Professor Nourreddine Amir reelected to the United Nations Committee for the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

( 01/22/10 )
 
The Algerian candidate was “brilliantly reelected” on the first ballot to a third four-year term with a remarkable score of 150 votes out of 162 cast by voting Member States, during the 23rd meeting of States party to the International Convention for the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
 
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]
 
ALGIERS- Algeria has expressed its sympathy and assures President Rene Preval of Haiti that it remains ready to provide full assistance and help, following the powerful earthquake that shook his country last week, making more than 70,000 deaths, said Thursday a Foreign Affairs ministry's communiqué.
 
"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.

L'ouverture des travaux s'est déroulée en présence de délégations des pays membres de l'UMA a précisé un communiqué du ministère des Affaires étrangères.

Dans une allocution, le chef de la délégation algérienne, l'ambassadeur, directeur général des pays arabes au ministère des Affaires étrangères, M. Abdelhamid Chebchoub, a salué "les réalisations accomplies dans le processus maghrébin", soulignant la détermination de l'Algérie à "poursuivre les efforts en vue d'activer l'intégration économique et renforcer l'action maghrébine commune".

Cette réunion constitue, selon M. Chebchoub, "une occasion pour débattre des questions organisationnelle, financière et institutionnelle et procéder à une évaluation globale de l'activité et des réalisations de l'UMA dans lecadre de l'intégration économique de la région maghrébine". Il a dans ce sens salué les "efforts consentis pour l'élaboration d'une étude sur la communauté économique maghrébine".

Il a également salué "le progrès réalisé en matière d'élaboration du projet relatif à l'instauration d'une zone maghrébine de libre échange".

Le chef de la délégation algérienne a évoqué dans son allocution "les défis futurs, notamment les questions liées à la jeunesse, soulignant l'importance de la coordination dans ce domaine en vue d'une bonne prise encharge des jeunes maghrébins.

M. Chebchoub a précisé que "ceci requiert une réflexion autour des formules idoines pour traiter avec ce genre de questions à travers l'élaboration d'une stratégie maghrébine qui prend en considération les aspirations des jeunes".

M. MEDELCI se rend à Tripoli

(12/30/09)

 
Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, M. Mourad MEDELCI se rend, lundi, à Tripoli à la tête d'une importante délégation pour prendre part aux travaux de la 29ème session du conseil des ministres des Affaires étrangères de l'Union du Maghreb arabe (UMA) prévus mardi à Tripoli (Libye).

Plusieurs questions sont inscrites à l'ordre du jour, notamment celles liées à l'intégration économique maghrébine, la poursuite de la réforme des institutions de l'UMA, l'examen du projet d'instauration d'une zone de libre échange, l'adoption de l'étude relative à la création de la communauté économique maghrébine, l'approbation du budget du secrétariat général de l'UMA et l'examen des questions liées à la jeunesse outre l'évaluation des réalisations en matière du processus maghrébin et les prochaines échéances maghrébines.

La 29ème session offrira aux ministres des AE des pays de l'UMA l'opportunité d'harmoniser leurs positions concernant les questions politiques, régionales et internationales intéressant la région.

Cette session sera précédée lundi d'une réunion du comité de suivi après celle ayant regroupé dimanche de hauts fonctionnaires.

 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.

M. Nikzad, qui conduit la délégation iranienne aux travaux de la 2e session du comité de suivi de la haute commission algéro-iranienne a déclaré à son arrivé à Alger que "tous les points communs en matière culturelle et les moyens que recèlent les deux pays dans le domaine de la technologie, de l'industrie et des sciences offrent l'opportunité de renforcer la coopération entre les deux pays".

 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.

Ce sommet, auquel participent plus d'une centaine de chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement, revêt "une importance particulière pour l'ensemble du continent africain qui figure parmi les zones les plus touchées par le phénomène du réchauffement climatique".

 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.

A assisté à cette audience, le ministre délégué auprès du ministre de la Défense nationale, M. Abdelmalek Guenaïzia.

  La Loi de Finances 2010

M. MESSAHEL remet un message du Président BOUTEFLIKA au Président soudanais

lundi 21 décembre 2009

 
Le ministre délégué chargé des Affaires maghrébines et africaines, M. Abdelkader MESSAHEL, a été reçu dimanche à Khartoum (Soudan) par le Président soudanais, M. Omar Hassan El Bachir, auquel il a remis un message du Président de la République, M. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA.

Les relations bilatérales, qualifiées d'"excellentes" et qui se développent et se diversifient à un "rythme croissant", ainsi que les questions régionales et internationales qui intéressent les deux pays, ont été au centre de cet entretien, a déclaré à la presse M. MESSAHEL au sortir de l'audience.

Il a, également, indiqué que sa visite au Soudan s'inscrit dans le cadre de la tradition de concertation et d'échange au plus haut niveau portant sur tous les sujets inscrits à l'agenda bilatéral et international.

M. MESSAHEL a, aussi, fait remarquer que sa visite intervient à quelque jours de la célébration par le Soudan du 54è anniversaire de son indépendance.

Le ministre a saisi cette occasion pour réitérer la position "constante" et "solidaire" de l'Algérie en "faveur de l'indépendance, de l'unité, de la souveraineté et de la stabilité de ce pays frère".

Au cours de sa visite, M. MESSAHEL doit, également, s'entretenir avec le ministre des Affaires étrangères, M. Deng Alor, avec le ministre d'Etat aux Affaires étrangères, M. Ali Kerti, avec le ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, M. Mohamed Yusuf, ainsi qu'avec d'autres responsables, notamment, M. Ghazi Salah Eddine, conseiller du Président El Bachir, en charge du dossier du Darfour.

La tenue de la Commission mixte algéro-soudanaise, prévue en janvier prochain, figurera au menu des entretiens de M. MESSAHEL à Khartoum.

Le ministre est arrivé samedi dans la capitale soudanaise pour une visite de trois jours.

 

 
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

  Full Text / Video

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


ALGIERS- Industry and Investments Promotion Minister Abdelhamid Temmar called on November 17, 2008, Argentine businessmen to acquire shares in Algerian industrial, state-owned companies which have been, for two years, the subject of a governmental reflationary policy aiming at "creating" or "recreating" competitive, industrial companies operating in the strategic field. Speaking at a seminar on trade, business and investment opportunities between Algeria and Argentina," bringing together businessmen from the two countries, Temmar voiced his wish that Argentine firms get "minority" shares in Algerian 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


ALGIERS - Algeria and Argentina voiced Monday, November 17, 2008, their determination to broaden their relations and foster their cooperation in all the fields and sectors, said Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on a State-visit to Algeria.

"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 REFORMS


With 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 )
 
On April 6 - 7, 2009, the second forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum is the world’s premier event aimed at advancing intercultural understanding.
 
PROGRAMME DU GOUVERNEMENT ALGERIEN
 
FAIRE DE L’ACTION INTERNATIONALE DE L’ALGERIE UN INSTRUMENT EFFICACE DE LA PROMOTION DE SES INTERETS ET DE SON DEVELOPPEMENT

Dans le cadre des options stratégiques et des principes fondateurs de la politique extérieure de l’Algérie, telle qu’arrêtée et conduite par Monsieur le Président de la République, et grâce à l’action diplomatique qu’il impulse à la faveur de la consolidation de la politique de réconciliation nationale, le renforcement des bases de l’Etat de droit et de la bonne gouvernance et du retour de la croissance économique, notre pays a pu reconquérir avec détermination sa place dans le concert des nations en dépit d’un contexte mondial complexe, tendu et en perpétuel bouleversement marqué, de surcroît, par des défis politiques, sécuritaires, économiques et environnementaux considérables.

A ce titre, le Gouvernement entend poursuivre une action diplomatique soutenue pour valoriser les acquis de la nation dans l’objectif suprême de la promotion de ses intérêts moraux et matériels et de son développement économique.

La consolidation des relations d’amitié avec les pays attachés à la paix et la promotion de l’intégration régionale, notamment avec les pays appartenant à nos espaces immédiats, figurera parmi les priorités de notre action diplomatique.

Pour ce qui concerne le Maghreb Arabe, l’Algérie est profondément attachée au choix stratégique d’un ensemble régional cohérent et homogène qui doit répondre aux aspirations de tous les peuples maghrébins et suivre des démarches méthodiques prenant en charge les mutations intervenues aux plans régional et international. Mais il est entendu que l’ensemble maghrébin ne saurait être réalisé au détriment du peuple sahraoui et de ses droits légitimes et inaliénables à l’autodétermination.

C’est pourquoi, l’Algérie continuera à porter ses efforts, dans le cadre des Nations Unies pour la promotion d’une solution juste et durable de ce conflit, conformément aux résolutions pertinentes du Conseil de Sécurité et à la légalité internationale.

En direction du Monde Arabe, l’Algérie œuvrera au renforcement de la cohésion et de la solidarité arabes et à la promotion des aspirations des peuples et des pays arabes, au respect de leurs droits légitimes, à la justice, à la dignité et à la stabilité. A ce titre, l’Algérie maintiendra sa solidarité pleine et entière avec le peuple palestinien pour la consécration de son droit légitime à l’édification de son propre Etat avec pour capitale El Qods El Charif, de même qu’elle poursuivra son engagement politique et diplomatique pour la libération de tous les territoires arabes occupés en 1967. A cet effet, l’initiative arabe de paix demeure pour le monde arabe le référent adéquat pour le règlement de cette question.

S’agissant de l’Irak, l’Algérie continuera d’œuvrer en faveur d’un règlement tendant à restaurer la souveraineté et l’indépendance et à préserver l’intégrité territoriale de ce pays arabe frère, dans l’unité de son peuple, l’intégrité de son territoire et sa pleine souveraineté sur ses ressources naturelles.

Au sein de la Ligue des Etats Arabes, le Gouvernement algérien ne ménagera aucun effort pour poursuivre sa contribution à la promotion de la dynamique des reformes engagées par les dirigeants arabes depuis le Sommet d’Alger de mars 2005.

Avec l’Afrique, l’Algérie partage la communauté de destin et d’intérêts et entend continuer à conjuguer ses efforts avec ceux des autres pays africains en vue de promouvoir l’émancipation, le développement et l’intégration de notre continent ainsi que son insertion harmonieuse et avantageuse dans la mondialisation. Notre pays continuera à appuyer tous les efforts en vue de résoudre les conflits et les différends.

L’Algérie demeure totalement engagée dans la promotion et la mise en œuvre du NEPAD qu’elle a initié avec d’autres partenaires africains, tout comme elle a été l’un des premiers pays à adhérer au Mécanisme Africain d’Evaluation par les Pairs (MAEP) parce que notre pays ne peut concevoir un développement harmonieux sans une bonne Gouvernance et sans une intégration économique continentale plus forte. Le plan d’action que l’Algérie élabora à cette fin, à l’issue du profond et participatif processus d’autoévaluation, s’inspire de cet esprit et s’inscrit dans cette perspective.

S’agissant des autres continents, le Gouvernement continuera à renforcer ses relations bilatérales avec les pays européens mais aussi avec ceux d’Asie et des Amériques avec lesquels existent de solides liens d’amitié et de coopération.

Sur les questions internationales, l’Algérie entend notamment accroitre ses apports qualitatifs au rehaussement de l’efficacité de la coopération internationale dans la lutte contre le terrorisme, la promotion du règlement pacifique des différends et des conflits, le dialogue des cultures et des civilisations et l’approfondissement de la coopération internationale pour le développement durable.

L’Algérie plaide pour une reforme profonde du système des Nations Unies et appuie la dynamique internationale visant la reforme des modes de gouvernance mondiale pour les rendre plus démocratiques et plus équitables.

Sur la question nucléaire, notre pays qui a souscrit à toutes les conventions internationales interdisant la prolifération nucléaire, particulièrement les protocoles additionnels de l’Agence Internationale de l’Energie Atomique (AIEA), défend le droit légitime des Etats à l’utilisation de la technologie nucléaire à des fins pacifiques.

De par son appartenance à l’espace Méditerranéen et consciente des multiples défis à caractère sécuritaire dans sa sphère d’appartenance, l’Algérie participe activement dans les multiples forums de dialogue et de concertation tels que le dialogue Méditerranéen de l’OTAN, l’OSCE, le processus de Barcelone, les 5+5 et les autres conférences et réunions traitant des questions de sécurité, de développement et de migration.

L’action diplomatique du Gouvernement sera mise à contribution pour accompagner le développement de l’économie nationale, notamment en mettant à niveau et en adaptant son outil de production aux techniques modernes de production et de gestion et en appuyant les efforts des agents économiques nationaux dans l’attrait de l’investissement et du partenariat étrangers.

Ainsi, le suivi de l’Accord d’Association conclu avec l’Union Européenne fait l’objet d’actions de la part de la diplomatie algérienne et d’un intérêt résolu en vue de faire bénéficier l’économie du pays de ses retombées et de renforcer les liens d’échanges et d’amitié traditionnels de l’Algérie avec les pays de ce continent.

De même que les négociations que mène l’Algérie en vue de son accession à l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce (OMC) appellent une contribution qualitative accrue de notre appareil diplomatique au niveau bilatéral et multilatéral pour parachever ce processus dans les meilleures conditions.

La protection des nationaux résidant à l’étranger et la défense de leurs intérêts continueront à constituer des priorités de la diplomatie algérienne qui se réaliseront à travers le souci constant de nos missions diplomatiques et consulaires de veiller à la protection de la dignité et de la sécurité des ressortissants algériens ainsi que de leurs biens. 
ALGERIA HAILS AGREEMENT TO END LEBANESE CRISIS
 

Algeria has expressed "great satisfaction" after Lebanese political representatives signed the Doha agreement marking a major milestone in the search for a solution to a crisis that has engulfed Lebanon for a number of years.

Algeria "has spared and will spare no effort in lending a helping hand to our Lebanese brothers to overcome the huge challenge that they are currently facing," said the Algerian foreign ministry, hailing what it described as a "highly successful and historic achievement" for the Lebanese people.

On Wednesday, 21 May, the Lebanese ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition announced that they had reached an agreement during Arab League-sponsored talks in Doha, Qatar, to end a political conflict.
 
The agreement "lays the groundwork and defines the framework likely to help end a serious crisis that has afflicted the country over the past few years," the Algerian foreign ministry spokesman announced in a statement Wednesday.
 
This success, "which in the first place, preserves the unity of the Lebanese people and its constitutional institutions in the light of its pioneering democratic experience, was only made possible by a high sense of responsibility and self-sacrifice on the part of the negotiators," according to the statement.
 
"The participants at the talks placed the supreme interest of Lebanon well above narrow considerations in order to arrive at an acceptable agreement," said the spokesman, at the same time commending the two sides.
 
"The settlement reached by Lebanese parties means that there's neither a victor nor a looser in accordance with the text and spirit of the Arab initiative," said the statement, adding that "the Lebanese parties must join hands and remain committed to the Doha Agreement with a view to ensuring its quick implementation."
 
The execution of the agreement "requires, from all those who contributed to its success, serious and honest efforts to establish the appropriate conditions to enable the implementation of its provisions and provide the enabling environment for a continued inter-Lebanese dialogue on the basis of consensus and mutual trust," according to the spokesman.
 
 
 
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