Medelci to Echorouk: “The transitional council has warped the reality in Libya”

In an exclusive interview with Echorouk, the foreign affairs minister, Mourad Medelci, has shed light on numerous issues notably on the recent accusations leveled by the Libyan transitional council against Algeria regarding the mercenary affair by discarding such accusations as utterly groundless.

• Echorouk : The Libyan transitional council insists that it has tangible evidence and videos accusing Algeria in the co-called mercenary affair. What is your reaction to these allegations?

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• M. Medelci : Algeria has since the outbreak of the conflict condemned violence in Libya and announced its clear apposition to any foreign intervention whatever the reason behind it. In fact, Algeria can’t choose between the Libyans of Benghazi and those of Tripoli.
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• We are against any foreign interference into the internal affairs of other countries especially if it concerns the domestic affairs of a brotherly country like Libya.
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• Echorouk : Do you mean that the Libyan revolutionary fighters want to push Algeria to back them against El Kadhafi?
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• M. Medelci : Algeria expressed its positions during the Arab league meeting held on March 12^th of this year. We put forth several proposals and if the latter were duly taken into account, we could have precluded the sad scenario now unfolding in Libya.
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• Echorouk : But, the Libyan transitional council did not content itself with these accusations. It put them forward even in an official manner?
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• M. Medelci : Persisting on such rumours without evidence weakens the position of those behind them and bolsters Algeria’s positions.

• Echorouk : What about the complaint lodged by the Libyan council before the Arab league against Algeria?
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• M. Medelci : I don’t regard it as a formal complaint but a nonsensical sheet of paper. In fact, we have no knowledge of this so-called complaint but we heard about it only via the press.
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• Echorouk : Certain circles are pushing the revolutionaries in Libya to accuse Algeria notably apposition circles overseas including Moroccan and French ones. Why Algeria is not swift in replying to these circles and unveiling their intentions in a direct manner?
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• M. Medelci : Algeria is reassured. These allegations are aimed at further stoking tension and violence in Libya and the troublemakers behind them are clearly intent on “freezing” Algeria’s positions at the international level but to no avail.
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• Echorouk : Regarding good neighbourliness, how do you see the future of the relations between Libya and Algeria notably in view of the deteriorating relations between Algeria and the Libyan transitional council?
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• M. Medelci : I want to seize this opportunity to hail Algeria’s stand regarding Libya’s unity. This should be achieved by the Libyan themselves whatever the side which comes to power. I should say that the African Union’s mediation drive is the best option to try and find an early solution to the current conflict in Libya and Algeria wholly backs the AU mediation.
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