Furthermore, Messrs. Messahel and Benjamin exchanged views on the events in Tunisia and Egypt and those ongoing in Libya and their repercussions on the stability and security in the region.In this respect, the Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs highlighted the progress achieved by the countries of the area since the ministerial meeting held in Algiers in March 2010 in strengthening their cooperation to eradicate this scourge.

During his meeting with Ambassador Benjamin, Mr. Messahel discussed at length Algeria’s approach to regional counterterrorism strategy, which is “founded on mobilizing resources made available by the countries of the neighboring region” and on “the support provided by partners in the areas of training, logistical support, and intelligence sharing.

”Mr. Messahel declared that, in that context, Algeria will host in the next few days a meeting convened by the competent structures within the African Union entrusted with combating the phenomenon of mercenary activities “which develop in the wake of conflicts.”

In the course of their meeting, the two officials undertook a “wide” review of the latest developments in the Sahel region and discussed ways and means to strengthen international strategy to combat terrorism and its multiple connections, including mercenary activities, various types of trafficking, and organized crime, said the same source.

Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs, Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, met on March 3, 2011, in Algiers with the State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Mr. Daniel Benjamin, said a Ministry for Foreign Affairs source.March 6, 2011.