Lakhdar Brahimi: “Arab Spring’s Effects On Algeria…”

Former Joint Envoy of the UN and the Arab League to Syria, Algerian diplomat, Lakhdar Brahimi, underlined in Algiers that repercussions and illusions of the so-called “Arab Spring” still adversely affect countries of the region while stressing that Algeria itself shouldn’t underestimate the latter’s nefarious impact.

Whatever our opinion vis-à-vis the “Arab spring”, we have to recognize that events having marked the last five years represent a myth and often reflect a plot as well as an interference in some of our countries’ affairs, the former Algerian diplomat stated in a conference entitled “Arab revolutions, reality, myth and plot,” held Sunday at the premises of the Council of the Nation (Upper House of Parliament).

These events undoubtedly continue to impact our Arab nation and neighboring countries, he said, adding that incidents in many countries having witnessed the “Arab spring” did not stem from nothing.

For Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, many factors led to these events, mainly the Russian and US military interventions in Afghanistan, which resulted in the emergence of the “al-Qaida” terrorist group, the outbreak of the Iranian revolution, the Iraqi-Iranian war and clashes between Sunnis and Shiites that ensued from this war.

As for Syria, he ruled out the possibility of division of this country, calling for the pooling efforts from the international community and regional parties, mainly Iran, to hammer out a viable solution to the Syrian crisis.

Regarding Libya, he stated that the mindless military intervention conducted by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was disastrous for the Libyans and scuttled African mediation efforts.  

“Algeria is morally and brotherly indebted to Libya for its heroic support to the glorious Algerian Revolution”, Mr Brahimi underscored.

 As for Yemen, he expressed the wish that current negotiations between Houthi  insurgents and the Yemeni government conducted under the aegis of the UN will lead to a solution enabling Yemen retrieve its security and stability.

Mr Brahimi also affirmed that Tunisia’s experience deserves the most interest as the situation in this country is satisfying.

The former Algerian foreign minister and veteran diplomat further deplored the withdrawal of state-funding on the part of many Arab States and governments to Palestine, recalling that Algeria has always fulfilled its commitments by duly paying its financial contribution to Palestine and maintaining strong relations with the Palestinian leadership as part of the shoring up of the legitimate Palestinian cause.