I Will Not Resign, Turkey Should Avoid Making Business With Algeria Martyrs, Ouyahia

Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia has excluded to resign before the upcoming parliamentary elections, saying only President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has the right to decide on the issue.

Following the wrap up of the 5th meeting of the executive council of the Democratic National Rally (RND), Mr Ouyahia responded to reporter’s questions, sometimes as the RND chief, and sometimes as the PM.

“Only President Bouteflika can decide whether I should stay or resign,” Ouyahia said, recalling that “parliamentary elections of 2002 and 2007 were supervised by Ali Benflis and Abdelaziz Belkhadem, respectively, who both served as PM and chief of the FLN party, and nobody challenged the election results.”

He underlined that his party would accept next election results no matter the winner is, stressing that “Islamists are welcome for alliance with us, should they comply to the law.”

As for the intention of the two alliance parties RND and FLN to endorse President Bouteflika for a fourth term, Mr Ouyahia said “Being president is an encounter of a man with his fate; and such an issue is not evoked at the party, for the moment,” adding that “our main concern, rather, is the turnout of next parliamentary elections.”

Head of the RND has further evoked the recent altercations between France and Turkey, following France approved a law that incriminates the denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey. The latter reacted by accusing France of committing genocide in Algeria during the colonial era. In this regard, Mr Ouyahia slammed Turkey, saying “Turkey had not supported Algeria in the Liberation War (1954-1962), and more than this, she voted against the Algerian cause in the UN,” adding that “Yesterday, Turkey contributed with its money in the killing of Algerians, being a member in the NATO which used to fight Algerians during the liberation war.” He further addressed leaders of nowadays Turkey, saying “Please don’t make business with our martyrs.”

On another side, Prime Minister said the government has taken measures against Aisha Gaddafi following her audio statements aired in an Arab TV channel, without however revealing the nature of these measures.

Elsewhere, Mr Ouyahia has evoked the issue of the troubles facing Arcelor Mittal Group, which is edging bankruptcy. The PM accused the India operator of inciting the 6000 workers to strike as to blackmail the government. 

He recalled that when Arcelor Mittal of El Hadjar, in the eastern province of Annaba, needed fund, it addressed the French Society General Bank, and provided in return guarantees, in terms of increasing its capital. He added that when the group faced financial troubles, it turned to the Central Bank of Algeria demanding a 13 billion DZD loan, without providing guarantees, saying he wonders why the group deals with such a double face manner. PM Ouyahia mentioned that the government will never accept to close down the steel work complex.