Algeria President Bouteflika to reshuffle diplomatic corps

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika summoned 40 ambassadors and consuls for a partial reshuffle of the diplomatic corps which will touch 17 capitals abroad, according to well-informed sources.President Bouteflika signed the new appointments decision on April 2nd, the same sources told Echorouk.

The summoned ambassadors and consuls will be retired. Some of them submitted demands for retirement after they had been holding their positions for many years or due to health conditions.

 According to the same sources, the reshuffle is meant to revive diplomatic activity aboard and try to correct its image in a number of foreign countries especially the European ones.

A number of former ministers will be included in the list of the new ambassadors.

 The new ambassadors and consuls will be in charge of boosting associations in a number of countries which are likely to influence decision making.

The reshuffle which will be announced next July will touch Algeria’s ambassadors to Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco, Damascus, Columbia, Hungary, Canada, Sued, Great Britain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Denmark as well as Algerian ambassador to the United Nations and France, said the same sources.

 Algerian consuls in Saint Etienne, Marseille, Montpellier in France and Abu Dhabi are involved in the reshuffle.