L'Expression: Medelci has deep concerns about Libya and Mali

 The Minister  highlights the threats overshadowing Libya and Mali  which are under threat of secession by various regional disputes and conflicts. Algeria their neighbour, is particularly concerned as the security situation in both countries is worsening. Aware of the serious consequences of division for the whole region, Algiers remains committed to the territorial integrity of both countries. This belief was reiterated yesterday by Foreign Minister.

"Libya is currently working to create new institutions. But the first priority is the security issue" Algeria has to establish a practical and effective cooperation which will enable both countries to recover their "security and stability, " he said.

 Mourad Medelci also emphasised the importance of the meeting of foreign ministers of the AMU in Cairo which sanctioned declaration stressing the need to respect the territorial integrity of Libya. In this sense, the head of Algerian diplomacy underlined that the position of Algeria was to strengthen the territorial integrity, the objective of the Libyan revolution is "to strengthen the territorial integrity of Libya."

The situation in Mali, where the government faces the MNLA separatist movement in the north fighting for the independence of Azawad, also causes "serious concerns" for Algiers. "We are working to open a dialogue between all stakeholders, including the Malian government for the settlement of this crisis," said the minister, noting that Algeria "has always played its role" to find a solution to the conflict between the Malian government and the MNLA. Mr Medelci said that " an extra effort by the Malian government is required to meet the needs of this region that we hold dear."

He hoped that the tragic events mark "the beginning of the end of violence in the region and the beginning of a dialogue between the parties concerned to settle problems on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity of Mali" .

Regarding the situation in the Sahel region, he thought that the Libyan crisis "has worsened especially with the proliferation of weapons and the illegal transfer of funds." Based on this new situation, Algeria  he said "has taken an initiative to convince international partners that the security concerns of the Sahel countries of the region" must be a priority.

 He said that this does not prevent the international partners from providing assistance to countries in the region through cooperation in training, information exchange and counter-terrorism which Africom and other bodies are doing.

The foreign minister also addressed Algerian-Moroccan relations and border issues. If  for the Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia,interviewed yesterday in El Khabar, the borders are "definitely open" Medelci was perhaps less emphatic than his earlier statements "this will be discussed in the context of global developments facing bilateral relations and  the need to find a solution able to satisfy everyone, " he said.

However bilateral relations have witnessed "a new era of bilateral cooperation in most areas." The Minister  also announced his upcoming visit to London in response to an invitation of his British counterpart, William Hague.