APS : Thursday, 09 March 2017
ALGIERS- Algeria is a “crucial partner” for Spain in the fight against terrorism, said Thursday in Algiers, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo.
“We consider Algeria as a crucial partner in the fight against terrorism to ensure the security of our fellow citizens,” said Dastis following the Algerian-Spanish political consultations, he co-chaired with Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra.
“Spain recognizes Algeria’s relentless work in the fight against the scourge of terrorism,” he said, adding that the Algerian-Spanish security cooperation “is very close.”
The Spanish Foreign minister said that he discussed with Lamamra the situation in the region.
“Relations between Algeria and Spain are excellent,” he said, adding that the two countries “seek to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in the most interesting sectors.”
In this regard, he said that Algeria and Spain “intend to hold, in the coming months, another high-level meeting.”
For his part, Lamamra underlined that the Algerian-Spanish cooperation in the resolution of conflicts “is not only positive but also promising,” insofar as “there is a convergence on the implementation of mechanisms strengthening international legality.”
“Spain has an important role to play regarding the Sahel-Saharan sub-region, and also the Palestinian question and the Syrian crisis,” he added.
As regards the Western Sahara issue, Lamamra said that he reiterated to his Spanish counterpart “Algeria’s commitment to the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, as well as its support to the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General (…), particularly following Morocco’s readmission to the African Union, as this would likely contribute to the creation of a new political climate, which, we hope, would help resolving the conflict.”
Lamamra underlined the “special relations” between Algeria and Spain and called for the “strengthening of their win-win partnership.”
He added that he discussed with his Spanish counterpart the preparations for the next Algeria-Spain high-level meeting, in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation singed 15 years ago.
The two sides committed to “stepping up efforts to present, in the coming months, several agreements to strengthen the Algerian-Spanish cooperation in the sector of tourism, in which Spain has developed a unique experience, as well as in food-processing,” said Lamamra.
The Spanish Foreign minister’s visit to Algeria was a “success” for both sides, he added.
Lamamra seized this opportunity to reiterate the invitation made by President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika to the King of Spain Felipe VI, to pay a visit to Algeria before the end of 2017.
