Algeria and Egypt Saved Assad Regime From Severe Sanctions, Medelci

Algeria has snubbed taking into consideration a report on Syria submitted to the Arab League recommending to impose harsh sanctions on the regime in Syria, Foreign Minister, Mourad Medelci said Sunday.

Mr Medelci told a press conference held jointly with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamel Amro, in Algiers, that “Algeria and Egypt have played a key role in terms of amending the draft paper proposed to the Arab foreign ministers,” stressing that “If the original draft was adopted, Algeria would have withdrawn from the committee and would have voted on the resolution.”

“Algeria and Egypt have had a common position towards the Syrian crisis, and we both pleaded to amend the original draft, as we both categorically stood against any foreign intervention in Syria.”

Yet, the chief of the Algerian diplomacy said “the situation in Syria is serious, and as members of the Arab committee, we have to listen to both disputing parties. Yet, we consider that the government of Syria is responsible for what is occurring on the ground, but that doesn’t mean that it is responsible alone.”

On another side, Egypt Foreign Minister expressed his hope to boost bilateral relations between the two countries in the near future, saying: “We look forward for a brighter future for the bilateral relations between the two nations, and hopefully restore them as they used to be.”