Abdelkader Messahel: “The Arab Region Is Facing Serious Aggravation Of Conflicts”

Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, reiterated Algeria’s assertion that reforming the mechanisms of the Arab League’s work is urgently needed in the framework of the development of the joint Arab action.

In an interview with the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh, Messahel said that Algeria always confirmed the need to carry out deep reforms within our Arab system so that it can adapt to the current situation regionally and internationally, and find Arab solutions to its differences and crises so as not to impose solutions on them from abroad.

“The 29th Arab Summit in Dhahran is taking place in an unprecedented Arab circumstance, and in light of the serious escalation of crises and conflicts, necessitating concerted efforts, overcoming differences and working to uphold the Arab supreme interest”.

“Our summit is taking place in a very sensitive circumstance. Our Arab nation did not know the challenges of such severity and gravity that it knows today. Unfortunately, in the final stage, the crises and conflicts that our nation is experiencing have increased in an unprecedented way, which requires us to work hard to find appropriate solutions between us and this can only be achieved by concerted efforts and overcome differences and work to uphold the Arab interest above all considerations.”

“Algeria has always been keen to heal the Arab ranks, and this is what it was always been done in all its actions towards our brothers and other partners. I firmly believe that solutions to the crises that beset our nation can only be peaceful away from foreign interference and that our nation has the capabilities, abilities and efforts that enable it to find satisfactory solutions to all our current crises. At the same time, Algeria has always confirmed the need for deep reforms within our Arab system so that it can adapt to the current regional and international situations and find Arab solutions to its differences and crises, as to avoid being forced to accept foreign solutions.”

“The general Arab situation witnessed a continuous deterioration in recent years, especially with regard to our central issue, the Palestinian case, which has known several setbacks in the recent period, but we can not deal with this situation with the required seriousness and firmness, and we hope that this summit is a turning point. In the way of dealing with the crises that hinder the course of our joint Arab action, and confront the risks and challenges that are facing our nation, not least the growing ideas of violent extremism and the spread of the phenomenon of terrorism, and take decisive actions that are in the level of aspirations of our peoples”.

On the Algerian-Saudi relationships, the Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, said: “There is a strong relationship between Algeria and Saudi Arabia, which is reflected in the high level of consultation and cooperation between Algeria and Riyadh in various fields. It is certain that the meeting of the Algerian-Saudi Joint Committee in the coming days will pay the relationship to a higher class.”

“Algeria fully appreciates the extent of the responsibility that is now placed on the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by hosting this summit in difficult Arab, regional and international circumstances. It is indeed a serious responsibility that is shared by all the Arab countries, and we hope that this summit will be brought under the Saudi good leadership with positive results that will boost the Joint Arab action and the bonds of cohesion between our countries and peoples.”

With regard to the effectiveness of the Arab League in dealing with the requirements of the current summit and its decisions, Minister Messahel expected that the Arab League will play a major role in the implementation of the resolutions that will be issued by the Arab Summit, adding that the Arab League should review its working mechanisms, including its management and methodology of dealing with the Arab issues.

“Algeria has already made its contribution to the reform of our Arab system through ideas and proposals that would give more effectiveness and efficiency to the work of the league”.