Algérie Presse Service (APS) – October 26, 2011

Through Major General Robin Searby, advisor to the British Prime Minister for counterterrorism in North Africa and the Sahel, the United Kingdom has reaffirmed Algeria’s “primordial” role in combating that threat in Sahel-Saharan region.

During his visit to Algiers, Major General Robin Searby co-chaired with Mr. Kamel Rezzag-Bara, advisor to the President of the Republic and coordinator of the joint ministerial group for external action in the area of counterterrorism, the third meeting of the Algerian-British bilateral contact group for cooperation in the fight against terrorism and related security issues, which convened in Algiers.

Speaking after the meeting, Major General Robin Searby spoke of “total convergence” of views on all issues discussed.

This third meeting was also an opportunity for the two sides to exchange analyses and information on the progress achieved in combating terrorism in the two countries and on its manifestations in the regional and international environment, namely in light of the recent developments in Libya.

Reaffirming his country’s commitment to help the countries of the Sahel strengthen their capacities to fight terrorism, Major General Searby underlined that the significance of the terrorist threat directed at the region dictated “concerted action.”

In this regard, the British official voiced the concern of the United Kingdom, which, he said, shares Algeria’s “preoccupations”, for the proliferation of a variety of weapons and for the circulation of uncontrolled armed elements likely to endanger peace and security in the sub-region.

Addressing the prohibition of ransom payment to terrorist groups in hostage-taking situations, Major General Searby called for expanded international consensus on the issue and underlined that his country is working at the United Nations in support of an enforcement of the resolution prohibiting payment of ransom to terrorists.