Algeria Will Not Withdraw Its Ambassador From Damascus, Official

Algeria will not recall its ambassador to Damascus, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Amar Belani told Echorouk Saturday.

Mr Belani said the Arab League’s decision related to withdraw Arab ambassadors from Syria does concern the sovereignty of each country, stressing that the North African nation will not implement it.

The official further denied the fact that Algeria did express any reserves over the suspension of the membership of Syria in the Arab League, saying “Algeria has unanimously agreed to suspend the involvement of Syria in the group, which is to enter into force during the coming summit of Arab and Turkey foreign ministers in Rabat.”

Mr Belani underlined that the meeting that preceded the announcement of the suspension decision, held in Cairo Friday, drew up a draft of sanctions against Damascus, but after consultations the sanctions were removed from the list, and the aforementioned suspension decision was reached, instead. 

As for the rejection of Algeria to receive representatives of the Syrian National Council opposition group, Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said Algiers has not been notified of any demand from the SNC to visit Algeria, “So how can the government reject a demand that hasn’t even been sent?”