Abdelmadji Teboune: “Internal Parties Try To Spoil Algeria's Relationships With Other Countries”

Germans are not involved in the campaign which is targeting Algiers Grand Mosque, Housing and Construction Minister, Abdelmadjid Teboune, said.

“Relationships between the two countries are good, on the basis that Germany is a friend and a respected state. Some Algerian contractors are behind the criticism and try to spoil the relationship between the two countries. Algeria will continue to build the mosque and end it by the end of current year”.

Housing Minister refused, during a field visit to the Grand Mosque, on Saturday, to provide accurate details about the attack against the Grand Mosque project, pointing out that he refuses to engage in argument or a maze, but the backgrounds and goals are known.

He only defended the project and said; “Since the launch of the idea of ​​creating the mosque, there were supporters and opponents, but we reciprocated in recent months a fierce attack against the project. we refuse to go into this file and our task is the completion of the Grand Mosque, and conduct the works at the pace which was agreed upon, to receive the project as soon as possible “, ruling out any actions or prosecutions in this regard.

Despite the insistence of the journalists to mention some names, but he refused to talk and considered that internal parties do not want the completion of the project; “It is strange, because when the mosque was asleep, all the people were satisfied but after its launch it becomes annoying to some parties.”

“German Studies Office “Engel und Zimmermann” is not involved in this, adding: “I have read an article that was published by a website and I did not see any imprint of the Germans, and we do not hear on their tongues any criticism of the countries in which they work with, not even their officials, but there are contractors who worked with them, and they just say what they like, and speak about the presidency and the ministry, and youth employment, and this is bullshit that we know it has nothing to do with the Germans.”

The minister was asked about the French criticism of the project, and he considered that Algeria has friendship relationships with either the Germans or the French, and the dispute may be only with consultants from the commercial point of view.

He supported the Chinese company in charge of the project’s completion, and said; “Chinese are brothers, and we are working with them together with 40 Algerians for pursuing the project. 

The minister expressed satisfaction with the works’ progress, after the lighthouse reached 120 meters, while 19 floors of the lighthouse were completed.