(Liberte :  22 Juillet 2010)

Algeria “is doing a good job” in the fight against terrorism and its efforts have made it possible to hinder terrorist objectives, declared a US official.

In an interview given on July 21 to the Arabic-language newspaper El Hayat published in London, England, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and North African Affairs and former US Ambassador to Algeria Janet Sanderson said the United States has “a positive and fruitful relation with Algeria and other countries of the region” and spoke highly of Algeria’s fight against terrorism, underlining that “After years of painful sacrifices, it seems that the Algerians have succeeded to make remarkable progress in the fight against terrorism.”

US officials are “very happy” to see that Algeria and other countries in the Sahel region, including Mali and Niger, “are working hand in hand to thwart the objectives of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),” said Ms. Sanderson.

She said that the United States is “always ready to provide assistance to Algeria and the Sahel region countries in terms of counterterrorism efforts” to fight the activities of AQIM, adding, however, that “They still insist on leading the fight by themselves, which does not, in fact, bother my Government”.

Ms. Sanderson reaffirmed also the position of her country, which opposes payment of ransoms to hostage takers. The taking of hostages to demand payment of ransoms is a “worrisome and dangerous” phenomenon, Ms. Sanderson added.