Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister talks about opening Moroccan borders

Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Mourad Medelsi has renewed Algeria’s position on opening the Moroccan borders’ file following recent Moroccan minister Fassi Alfahri’s call, confirming that this step is done after a comprehensive agreement with Rabat. “We are not dealing with statements in this issue, but with continuous and sustained diplomatic work.”

• Medelsi who descended as a guest on a TV programme “Tahawoulat” (mutations) broadcasted on the radio channel 1, said Algeria is keen on building peaceful and fraternal relations with the kingdom of Morocco, by contrast, there are principles that can not be waived, in a reference to the Western Sahara issue, treated by the UN.
• Concerning Algeria’s position towards the European project for the Mediterranean, he confirmed that many question marks around this project were raised during the Arab foreign minister’s meeting recently in Cairo.
• He added that the essence of this project will not be seen as sufficient only after the start, pointing out that the meeting scheduled in Algeria on 5 and 6 of next June 13 between Mediterranean country’s minister will allow finding a light for the project.
• As for funding issue, he said that Europeans symbolically decided to participate. So, “the project becomes a commercial operation.”
• He added that this meeting will be an opportunity for the Magreb states to build a collective position towards the project to deny Magreb’s summit existence about terrorism fight.
• He revealed that the upcoming visit of the French prime minister to Algeria will be held on the next 21 June. There will be the signing of two agreements between the two countries, the first concerning collaboration in the military field and the second in nuclear technology. They were programmed during Nicholas Sarkozy’s visit to Algeria but that negotiations were uncompleted.
• As to Algeria’s relationships with the francophone Organization, Medelsi said that it is moving on two levels, the first concerning it’s participation as an observer member in summits, and the second regards the existence of a new vision for the organization’s work, the Canadian Quebec province’s minister announced in her recent visit, concerning cooperation between members of several areas, then he revealed that President Bouteflika led since the recent Arab Summit attempts to bring the leaders closer, but in an undeclared way.
• On the uproar over the existing decree of religious rites for non- Muslims, he said that Algeria is not subject to such pressures despite its understanding of the concern shown by several parts on these procedures. That assured the decree has no inclusive substance of any religious group while he refused to provide details concerning the last agreement between Algeria and Libya about the prisoners’ file.
• He confirmed that the issue will know a breakthrough in the near future and that there is a political will folding file final.
• Movement effecting 25 diplomatic positions
• Mourad Medelsi talked about a reshuffle in the diplomatic corps next June including 25 diplomatic positions abroad, pointing out that this action happened every year, but this year it was early.
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