Former Tunisian Foreign Minister, Rafik Abdessalam to Echorouk: “Algeria is not an exporter of terrorism”

Statements of a number of Tunisian security officials, journalists and politicians, through television channels and Web sites, said that Algeria is responsible for the events in Tunisia, especially the terrorist attack that targeted the army units in Djebel Chaabni, and considered “Algeria a source of terrorism in Tunisia.”

This “assessment” was paved by the official spokesman of the Tunisian Interior Ministry, the officer Mohamad Ali Laroui, who stated in anews bulletin of the government channel 1, that the terrorist leaders in Tunisia are Algerians, and Tunisians occupy secondary sites that do not exceed the backing and supply without any combat role.

Some analysts in the Tunisian channel “Hannibal” claimed that Algeria is part of the terrorist attack that targeted the army units in DjebelChaabni, and is the source No. 1 for terrorism.

Senior security source told Echorouk Tunisian newspaper that the confessions of the detainees in the area of Kasserine near Djebel Chaabni revealed that Tunisians were dealing with “Algerian terrorist groups” to gain their livelihood. 

Retired Major General, Abdelaziz Medjahid, described these accusations in his interview for Echorouk, as “serious” and “irresponsible” and said, “Unfortunately, Tunisia does not grasp anything in terrorism, how can some accuse Algeria, at the time security reports revealed that the presence of thousands of Tunisian terrorists who returned from Syria. 

“We condemn the false allegations, which aimed to mislead the Tunisian people. These accusations are unacceptable confusion againstAlgeria. Algeria will remain committed to the principles of good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries.” 

Military and security expert Colonel Ben Omar Ben Gana, said that the Tunisian analyses and allegations of politicians are unfounded, and are a prejudice against Algeria.

“The question revolves around this sudden Tunisian awakening, and the allegations which they have made by saying that the cancer of terrorism is originating from Algeria, and is impossible to grow in Tunisia.” 

“Everyone knows that Tiguentourine attack that targeted Algeria was carried out by a multinational terrorist group, including 11 Tunisians,however, the Algerian authorities have not directed any charges to Tunisia because Algeria for its confidence that terrorism is an international phenomenon and not local or regional. Three thousand Tunisian fighters exist in Syria, does this means that the Tunisian people are terrorists and Tunisia incited to kill the Syrians ..? “.

Retired colonel and former military attaché to Algeria in the Middle East, said that “Terrorism has no race or nationality, and the authorities of both countries should intensify efforts to eliminate it.”
  
Conversely, former Tunisian Foreign Minister, Rafik Abdessalam, said Algeria is not guily of the charges against it by the parties in thecountry, stressing that there are tight relationships between the two countries. 

“Algeria has suffered for many years from terrorism and struggled to restore its stability and to strengthen its institutions, and eliminatedthis dangerous phenomenon.” 

“Algeria is free from these accusations and all that would harm the security and stability of our country, as security the two countries is common and the unity of the fate of the two brotherly peoples in the past, present and future”.