Echorouk Forum: “we stopped dealing with cheater Algerian agencies, says Saudi Ambassador to Algeria

There are Algerian agencies which cheat immigrant pilgrims in Europe, according to Saudi Ambassador to Algeria.

• Over 120,000 visas in 2008
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• Algeria is ranked 8th for performing al-Omra rituals. “A total of 126,400 visas were granted this year. Of them, 66,400 for al-Omra alone,” D. Sami Abdellah Essaleh, Saudi Ambassador to Algeria told Echorouk.
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• Echorouk’s guest denied that Saudi authorities had taken any measures to reduce Algeria’s share from al-Omra during Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. “This share went up from 50,000 last year to 66,000.”
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• Speaking on touristy agencies which complain about the embassy’s restricted measures; D. Sami Abdellah denied those allegations. “The touristy agencies which are complaining are the ones which do not respect the law. Some of them have brought passports of Algerians living abroad to stump their visas though it is an illegal act.”
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• “Those passports’ owners have not entered Algeria at all and Saudi embassy informed authorities of those violations,” he added.   
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• According to him, the embassy is working with 90 touristy agencies as part of al-Omra and there is no problem with them.
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• Some agencies were stopped because they were manipulating visas while others focused on summer and could not cope with Ramadan. “A large number of agencies’ clients got visas but they did not find place in the aircrafts. They are waiting.”
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• Saudi Ambassador mentioned that authorities are keeping watch on touristy agencies dealing with al-Omra. “Regular reports on the agencies are submitted by the embassy to authorities.”
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• Multi-dimension strategy to fight violence in Saudi Arabia
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• Saudi Ambassador considered that violence and terrorism in some Muslim countries have no religion, identity and no race. “Saudi Arabia suffered from this indiscriminate violence in the last years. That’s why; a strategic programme has been put to put an end to terrorism. It needs efforts, organised and meticulous work.”
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• He added that his country is ready for help and import this strategy to any country.
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• Asked about the nature of this strategy, he said it contains many dimensions: security, education and society.  “As for the educational dimension for example, Saudi authorities have mobilised mosques and schools in every place to fight terrorism and outsider ideas in society to sensitize people and correct some concepts.
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• Saudi counter-terrorism strategy in its society-related dimension is based on dealing with released prisoners by presenting social programmes and humanitarian assistance.
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• “The most important point in this strategy is to try to convince those mislead people of the fact that Saudi Arabia is their homeland and not en enemy for them.”
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• Saudi investments in Algeria reach 450 million dollars
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• According to the Ambassador, the lack of Saudi investments in Algeria is due to the fact that Saudi businessmen are still investing in their country. That explains why Saudi investments in Algeria do not exceed $450 million while commercial exchange volume between the countries is estimated at $250 million.
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• On the other hand, the Ambassador said a maritime line is expected to be open between Algeria and Saudi Arabia before the end of 2008. “That would facilitate links between the two countries and develop commercial and economic exchanges.”
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• Saudi businessmen and companies have been investing in Algeria in medicines, petrochemistry, touristy development and agriculture. The Ambassador gave the example of Sidi Abdellah’s factory of medicines for malicious diseases.
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• A call to re-open Saudi school in Algeria
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• Saudi Ambassador called on Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Algerian Education Ministry to reopen the Saudi school for Algerians. According to him, the school respected the ministry’s decision. “We are committed to this decision and we hope that it would be revised.”
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• The school which counts 740 students includes European nationals in Algeria and Arab diplomats’ children. The Ambassador stressed the necessity of opening it for Algerians in conformity with the Algerian law.
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• In this regard, he said the school delivers Saudi diplomas and not Algerian ones.