PM Ouyahia: “The onus is not on Wikileaks or on the Americans but on those Algerian officials or public figures who have tarnished Algeria's image on the world scene”

Replying Wednesday to senator's queries at the council of the nation or upper house of Parliament, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia firmly excoriated those Algerian officials or public figures who have, as he put it, tarnished Algeria's image abroad as reported by the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks over the past few weeks.

•  Mr Ahmed Ouyahia stressed that the onus should not be pinned on Wikileaks or the Americans but rather on those faulty Algerian  officials or public personalities who did not live up to their commitments by duly safeguarding the reputation and brand image of their own country through their blameworthy statements and dishonorable practices in or outside Algeria.
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• In separate files, Economic development, boosting growth, improving the living conditions of citizens were also at the centre of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia’s address at the Council of the Nation (upper house of Parliament) in response to senators’ questions in relation to the government’s general policy statement, presented Sunday in Algiers.
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• Government’s activity report encompasses the end of the five-year programme 2005-2009 and the launch of the second (2010-2014), to which a significant budget has been devoted. The budget is estimated at USD256 billion, including about USD156 billion (DZD11,534 billion) for “new” public investment and USD130 billion (DZD9,700 billion) for completion of projects relating to the five-year programme 2005-2009.
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• In his address, Ouyahia stressed that “restoration of security and establishment of civil concord and national reconciliation are our country’s basic achievements of the decade.”
  
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  Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia further said 10,000 specialist doctors would graduate by 2014, twice the number of specialists graduated in the last five years. In reply to concerns raised by the members of the Council of the Nation about the lack in specialist doctors in some provinces, Ouyahia said measures taken by the government, mainly in the sectors of health and higher education, would bear fruits once the number of specialist doctors is doubled by 2014.
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• Mr Ouyahia affirmed the state was aware of the shortage of specialists, affirming that it “will work for making up the deficit,” assuring that specialist doctors “will be based in the country’s south by ensuring them housing.”
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• Concerning difficulties faced by citizens in some provinces because of the lack of specialist doctors and resources, the prime minister said the state “is doing everything in its power to remedy the situation.”