APS : Tuesday, 24 January 2017
ALGERIA-Strengthening Algeria-Switzerland ties, particularly counterterrorosm cooperation, was the focus of the
talks Minister for Maghreb Affairs, the African Union and the Arab League Abdelkader Messahel Abdelkader Messahel held Tuesday in Algiers with a Swiss delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Krystyna Marty Lang.
In a statement to the press after the meeting, Messahel said he broached with the Swiss official relations between the two countries and means to further consolidate them, particularly the fight against terrorism and extremism.
“We also discussed issues that challenge us, especially the fight against terrorism,” he said, highlighting “Algeria’s capacities to address this scourge.”
“The deradicalization issue was also the focus of these talks,” said Messahel who affirmed that Switzerland “has specific programs” in this field.
“We have exchanged our experiences so that the work we have accomplished together in internationals fora,” like the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), leads to convergent approaches,” said Messahel.
After describing the talks as “interesting,” Messahel stated he also tackled “the place of democracy in the fight against violent extremism” and the situation in the region, as well as the conflicts witnessed by some neighbouring countries, like Libya and Mali.”
For her part, Lang affirmed she broached with Messahel “issue of common interest likely to strengthen the very good bilateral relations.”
“We have also examined the issues relating to stability, peace, immigration and economic cooperation,” she added.
