Bouteflika Says Algeria Heads Towards a New Era of Democracy

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Wednesday that Algeria heads to important elections rendezvous which are to open wide horizons of a new era of democracy.

President Bouteflika said in an allocution at the opening of the judicial year 2011-2012, that this new era would be “marked by democracy, with all its necessary elements, and which will restore confidence between citizens and parliamentary institutions at all levels.”

Mr Bouteflika added that Algeria is still living her “infancy” in terms of democratic experience.

He indicated that “I’m not saying that we have passed all stages, and there is no need to compare Algeria’s democracy experience with Britain or France’s, as these two countries have taken democracy path long centuries before us.”

“We are training in this area, therefore no blame should be made against us or against critics directed to us both from inside and abroad,” he said, adding that “possibly, there are gaps or non completed steps, but these will gradually occur and will come out from our people who have confidence only in their own achievements.” 

Concerning voices questioning the uniqueness of Algeria and whether she is part of her environment or remains outside of it, President Bouteflika said THE North African nation is part of this world: “It is influenced and has impact on it, but she won’t accept to return to the experiences she lived for decades,” in reference to the terror era that hit the country in the nineties.  

President Bouteflika concluded that “the Algerian people are concerned about their independence and sovereignty, and that things will not be dictated on them,” recalling that “this people snatched their freedom after great sacrifices.”

Mr Bouteflika has on Wednesday opened officially the judicial year of 2011-2012 in a ceremony held at the Higher School of Magistracy, in upper Algiers.