APS : Tuesday, 22 March 2016
ALGIERS- Algeria is a “key player” in the stabilization of the region, said Tuesday in Algiers the Rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Rene Rouquet, during the audience granted to him by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelhamid Senouci Bereksi, said a Ministry’s statement.
Rouquet, who is on official visit to Algeria at the invitation of Speaker of the Council of the Nation (Upper House of Parliament) Abdelkader Bensalah, recalled the initiative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) “to promote a genuine parliamentary dialogue within the framework of the Partner for Democracy status, granted to partner countries, including Algeria, for its role as a key player in the stabilization of the region,” said the statement.
The European official also underlined the “importance of his mission, which aims at examining means and ways to consolidate the parliamentary dialogue developed by its institution with Algeria, as well as regional issues of common interest,” added the Ministry’s statement.
For his part, Bereksi reiterated “Algeria’s commitment to strengthening Algerian-European parliamentary dialogue with a view to enhancing bilateral relations and exchanges between the peoples, in the face of common security, economic and migration challenges, especially in the region that concerns the two partners,” said the statement.
The two sides also exchanged views on the successful international mediation led by Algeria in Mali and Algeria’s role as a neighbouring country in the United Nations process in Libya, within the framework of an inclusive political solution, which preserves the unity and territorial integrity of the country,” added the statement.
The developments in Western Sahara issue, following the recent visit of the UN chief to the region was also discussed by the two sides.
As regards the promotion of democracy, Bereksi highlighted “the achievements made through the amended Constitution, adopted recently by the Algerian Parliament, including the setting-up of a national council of human rights.”
He reiterated Algeria’s support to the UN Fund for Democracy, to which it has been recently appointed as member of its Advisory Board, said the Ministry’s statement.
Bereksi also reiterated Algeria’s position on migration, based on a comprehensive approach taking into consideration the security, economic and humanitarian dimensions with the respect for the human dignity, and the preservation of the rights of the members of Algerian community settled in Europe, said the statement.
