Algeria’s position toward Legitimacy crisis in Egypt depends on African Union
Algerian foreign affairs minister Ramtane Laamamra Saturday said there is a legitimacy crisis in the Egyptian regime following a coup against elected President Mohamed Morsi. Algeria will announce its position after a commission led by former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konaré presents its report.
“The African Union suspended Egypt’s membership as its Charter forbids reaching power through unconstitutional ways. It appointed a commission led by former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konaré to examine the Egyptian case and give recommendations,” Laamamra told Echorouk in a press conference.
“We hope that the African commission will finish its assessment of the situation in Egypt very soon. Its recommendations will enable us to have an African position to treat the Egyptian crisis,” he added.
The minister also said Algeria does not interfere in countries’ domestic affairs. “We may have an opinion, an analysis or a political idea about what is happening in Egypt. Yet, this is part of brotherhood considerations. Algeria hopes that Egypt will play its role in the African Union’s institutions once again because this would reinforce this continental organism.”
Speaking about the Egyptian foreign minister’s visit to Algiers on January 5th, Laamamra said Algeria deals with countries and not governments. “Our strategic and diplomatic relations with Egypt continue. Algeria deals with it as a friend country.”
Asked about Hollande’s controversial “joke,” he said the problem was solved through diplomatic channels and bilateral relations are bigger than that event.
“French President resolved the crisis by calling President Bouteflika. Elysée Palace issued a release in this regard. Relations between Algeria and France are strong and can not be ordinary.”
Asked about Algerian prisoners in Iraq, the minister said four of them benefited from presidential amnesty and some of them came back to Algeria. Others are still in Iraq until the government confirms that they are not prosecuted for other cases.
Laamamra refused to call Syrian nationals in Algeria as “refugees,” saying they are “brothers received by Algeria as part of brotherhood solidarity.”
“We hope that they will not stay in Algeria for a long time so that they will come back to their country after the crisis is solved through dialogue,” he said.