Obama to visit Algeria soon

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked with Algerian officials during her last visit to Algeria about a possible state visit of President Barrack Obama to the country, Echorouk has learnt from Algerian diplomatic sources.

Obama may pay a visit to Algeria within the next few months, said the same sources.

According to observers, diplomatic rapprochement, economic and commercial cooperation growth and security and military coordination between Algeria and the US are likely to lead to an official visit by the American president.

This comes as French President François Hollande, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov paid successive visits to Algeria.

Washington “thanked Algeria and expressed its gratitude” for prevention security measures which were taken after In Amenas attack to secure US embassy and residence, the same sources told Echorouk.

According to other sources, “at present, there is no scheduled visit of Obama to Algeria but a possible visit can be decided. It will be practical and beneficial for the two countries.”

Earlier, Clinton paid two visits to Algeria in a short time. She talked with Algerian officials about the situation in the Sahel region and the counterterrorism mechanisms development.

A month ago, a terrorist group killed dozens of hostages at a natural gas plant, including three Americans in In Amenas (south of Algeria).

Obama condemned the attack and placed the blame directly on the terrorists who perpetrated it. “The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out, and the United States condemns their actions in the strongest possible terms … the US is ready to provide whatever assistance” Algerian officials need in the days ahead and will also continue working closely with its partners to combat the scourge of terrorism in the region, which has claimed too many innocent lives,” he said.