Foreign Minister, Sabri Boukadoum: “The French MP Was Not Arrested In Algeria”

The principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries is a rule that Algeria will not depart from, and rejects any foreign interference in its internal affairs, Foreign Minister, Sabri Boukadoum, said on Monday.

Boukadoum said on the sidelines of the opening of the National Conference on Bets for the Completion of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, responding on the recent statements that were made by a member of the European Parliament on the popular movement and the political situation in Algeria, that ; “The principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries is a rule that Algeria will not depart from, and also rejects any external interference in its internal affairs from anyone, whether it is a civilian or a political person”.

Regarding the non-issuance of a statement by the Foreign Ministry on the subject, the minister explained that “the EU MPs are hundreds and the ministry cannot respond to anyone who initiates comments on Algeria, which is already rejected”.

Asked about the arrest of a French MP at the students’ protests in the city of Bejaia (eastern Algiers), the minister said that “this was not an arrest”, adding that “the protests all over the world are reserved for the citizens of the country and not foreigners”.

“What will be the verdict of an Algerian citizen, MP or politician who might be arrested in marches in foreign countries and how will the host government respond?”.

Boukadoum asserted that the French MP is living in France and not in Algeria and its participation in Algerian protests may be considered as foreign interference and prejudice to the national sovereignty”.

Regarding the beginning of preparations for the presidential elections at the level of Algerian diplomatic missions abroad, the minister said that the latter is “fully prepared”, noting that currently “the National Independent Electoral Authority decides and that the ministry remains at the disposal of this body in terms of material and human resources that it can request, recalling that the Algerian voters who are residing abroad represent about 1.6 Algerians”.