Bouteflika Expresses Concern About ISIS Extension, Threat of Foreign Intervention

President Bouteflika expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in Libya, and its possible impact on Algeria and Tunisia.

Bouteflika seemed reassured about Tunisia, despite the terrorist attacks in the eastern neighbour, as it happened a few days ago at Ben Guerdane, south of the country. 

Bouteflika and Ghannouchi asserted on absolute rejection to any foreign intervention in Libya, and to create a barrier to prevent any repercussions of developments on their respective countries.

Security aspect, particularly with regard to the developments in Libya, and the extension of terrorist groups there, and the preparation of the West to carry out military action under the justification of fighting terrorism, was the focus of the meeting of President Bouteflika xith the President of the Tunisian NAHDA Movement, Sheikh Rachid Ghannouchi, last Sunday. 

NAHDA movement’s foreign relationships official, Rafik Abdessalem, who accompanied Ghannouchi in the visit, told Echorouk: “President Bouteflika expressed his concern about the deterioration of the situation in Libya, and asserted that Libya turned into a source of headache and a threat against Algeria and Tunisia “. 

“With the threats against the two countries, it was agreed between the President and Sheikh Rachid, to launch a coordination to reject a Western military intervention in Libya, because of its dangerous effects. Solution can only be political.”

The two men also discussed the need to create an impervious dam to protect the two countries from the risks.

Though President Bouteflika had told his guests that he is reassured of the security situation in Tunisia, especially that terrorism targeted it in four major operations, in less than a year, starting from Bardo process, then Sousse, then the suicide attack in the capital against the presidential security agents, and the latest attempt is the terrorist attempt to control Ben Guerdane, Abdessalam replied in this regard by saying: “President Bouteflika is very reassured about the situation in Tunisia. He asserted that Tunisia will receive all kinds of support, especially in the security, military and economic sides, from Algeria. He ordered the full support to Tunisia, and praised the Tunisian experience, and compatibility between the government and political parties, with the call to upgrade relationships between the two countries.”

With regard to the message that was carried by the movement’s delegation to Bouteflika, Abdessalam, who served as foreign minister earlier, said the Libyan unrest has accelerated the holding of the meeting, especially the transmission of the risk to the Tunisian interior, after Ben Guerdane attack.

“There is a need to upgrade the relationships between the two countries to higher levels, and make strategic decisions away from the meetings of bilateral commissions that are realized between the two countries, and which may not find a way to implementation”.

“We talked with the president about the security matter, the fight against terrorism, and security coordination between the two countries, and the exploitation of information, especially after the tragic events in Ben Guerdane, in the south of Tunisia.”