New US Ambassador: “Algeria pledged to protect US personnel and facilities despite volatile Sahel situation”

The future United States ambassador to Algiers, Joan Polaschik, brought out on Tuesday before the US Congress, the sustained efforts made by Algeria to strengthen the stability of the Maghreb and Sahel regions, while hailing her appointment as coming in a time when relations between the United States and Algeria are experiencing a significant evolution.

Mrs Joan Polaschik spoke at her hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. Senate as part of the confirmation process at the head of her country’s embassy in Algiers.

Relationship between the United States and Algeria continues to grow stronger, she affirmed.

“The United States has a robust and multifaceted partnership with the people and government of Algeria. I am fortunate to be nominated at a time when the potential for expanding that bilateral relationship has never been stronger,” he said before the US Senators.

Recalling the launch in 2012, of the US-Algeria Strategic Dialogue, she said that if confirmed by the Senate, “I will continue to advance our key U.S. foreign policy interests in Algeria, namely working with the government of Algeria to counter the threat of terrorism and strengthen the stability of the Maghreb and Sahel regions, increasing commercial ties between the United States and Algeria, boosting civil society and democratic institutions, and working with the Algerian government to support the political and economic reforms necessary to ensure Algeria’s long-term stability.”

Mrs Polaschik stressed that the Algerian government is deeply committed to the safety and security of US personnel and facilities, and has been extremely responsive to our requests for security support.

She affirmed that Algeria is “on the front lines of the battle against violent extremism,” having suffered the scourge of terrorism with the recent attack on the gas-production facility near In Amenas in January 2013.

Algeria, is a ”steadfast” partner in the fight against terrorism, she emphasized.

“The government of Algeria understands the need to remain vigilant against those who wish to do us harm and is a steadfast partner in our counterterrorism efforts notably  by being an active participant in the Global Counter-terrorism Forum and the Trans-Sahel Counter-terrorism Partnership,” she explained.

Mrs Joan Polaschik underscored that due to its geostrategic position, Algeria has “an important role to play” in strengthening relations between North and Sub-Saharan Africa, notably in its mediator role in the conflicts in the African continent “remains vital to find peaceful solutions.”

Expanding bilateral cooperation

Bilateral cooperation expanded to form a robust diplomatic, political, and economic partnership as well, the future ambassador said.

She recalled the holding of two bilateral Strategic Dialogues, former Secretary Clinton visited Algeria twice, Secretary

Kerry just visited in April 2014, and Energy Secretary Moniz opened the U.S. pavilion of the recently-held Algiers International Trade Fair.

 “As one of the largest oil and gas producers in the Middle East and Africa, Algeria is a critical supplier of energy to Europe and global markets. Algeria has significant remaining energy resources and potentially vast untapped unconventional hydrocarbon resources, and its government is eager to partner with U.S. firms, whose expertise in this sector is unparalleled in the world”, she noted.

“Beyond oil and gas, Algeria is interested in diversifying its economy, and there is significant potential in the attractive Algerian market for U.S. companies”, she also underlined.