Ould Khelifa: “Reforms were fostered at the people’s request and not because of foreign leverage”

The chairman of the National Popular Assembly or lower house of Parliament, Larbi Ould Khelifa, has said that the manifold reforms in Algeria have been initiated at the request of the Algerian people and not because of foreign pressure, stressing that the country is entirely sovereign in its vision and its policies designed to promote its political and socio – economic choices for the benefit of the Algerian citizens as a whole.

Taking the floor on Monday at the opening session in Algiers of an international symposium devoted to the political reforms underway in Algeria, Mr Ould Khelifa made a broad survey of Algeria’s steady path to multiparty rule and democratic practice since the year 1988 stressing that the country had achieved, despite woeful constraints, significant gains in terms of social justice, press freedom and the rule of law since that eventful period.

He underlined that contrary to other Arab countries which were beset by turmoil and instability on account of the after-effects of the so – called “Arab spring upheavals”, Algeria had been spared such a damaging blow because of its level – headed policy based on salutary and timely reforms on several plans.

Concurrently, several other high-profile delegates attending this international symposium dwelt on Algeria’s commendable experience in the promotion of political and socio-economic reforms in line with the legitimate aspirations of the population as part of the overall establishment of law – abiding institutions and a genuine democracy.