BFO spokesman Barry Marston to Echourouk: Algeria’s role is pivotal in the stability of the Northern African region

The spokesman for the British Foreign Office in charge of the Middle East issues Barry Marston has indicated that his country is expecting a close cooperation between Algeria and the Libyan National Transitional Council, which requires the hand over of El – Queddafi’s family members that sought refuge in the North African country.

• The British official said in a lengthy interview with Echourouk that the role of Algeria is pivotal in the North African region and Middle East alike, dwelling on the visit paid by the British Foreign Secretary , William Hague to the Maghreb.

• He has noted that his country is looking forward to build up strong diplomatic ties with a country that will play a key role in the stability of the region in the future.

• Echourouk: What lies behind the visit of William Hague to the Maghreb countries and why necessarily this period of time?

• Marston:Hague’s tour to North Africa is designed to pave the way for consolidating the toes between the UK and the North African and Sahel countries. Through this visit, the UK aims to reach out to these countries and assure them that it will do its utmost to support the economic and political reforms throughout the Northern African and Middle East countries.

• Echourouk: Does the visit paid by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to Egypt on the same day come within the same framework?

• Marston:Clegg’s visit to Egypt came in a different context. He has asserted, during his meeting with the Egyptian Prime Minister and other political figures that the UK was committed to build strong and sustainable diplomatic ties with Egypt. He insisted on drawing out a clear road map to reach democracy, seizing the opportunity to announce a battery of measures to support the Egyptian authorities in the process of political and economic reforms.

• Echourouk: Algeria media have reported that Hague called on the Algerian authorities to cooperate with the Libyan NTC and, eventually, hand over the other members of El- Queddafi’s family, on which basis Hague based his declarations?

• Marston: We knew that El- Queddafi’s family members sought refuge in Algeria and that the NTC is asking for their expatriation to be tried. We expect that the Algerian authorities will not oppose any form of cooperation with the Libyan authorities in keeping with its legislations.

• Echourouk: We have noticed that the UK is increasing its activities in the North African region especially in Algeria either on the economic or security levels, does the UK understand at last that the region was not a French exclusive territory?

• Marston: Algeria is keen on diversifying its diplomatic ties with the other international partners. We have excellent diplomatic ties with this country. To pick up Hague’s words during the meeting with the Algerian FM Mourad Medelci, there is a lot to do in the offing between the two countries especially in the economic, energy, immigration, language learning and counterterrorism.

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