President Bouteflika Meets With Rached Ghannouchi

President Bouteflika told the head of Tunisia Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, about the fear of Algeria from the Libyan situation, but he expressed great optimism about bypassing the crisis there, while Ghannouchi asserted his country’s rejection of the establishment of foreign military bases on the Tunisian territory.

Foreign relations’ official in the Ennahda Movement, Rafik Abdessalem, who was accompanied by Ghannouchi at the meeting with the President Bouteflika on Sunday, told Echorouk that the two sides have fought extensively in the Libyan file.

“There is a convergence of views in terms of emphasis on the importance of preserving the unity and sovereignty of Libya, and avoids rejecting the foreign interference, and the emphasis on dialogue and national consensus over the formation of a national consensus government that represents all the components of Libya, without exclusion of one of the parties.”

“Bouteflika expressed Algeria’s doubts of what is happening in the Libyan territory. Yes, there is a fear of what is happening in the neighboring Libya. There is a common fear of the Libyan issue, but we felt he is optimist and confident about finding a solution in Libya, and concreting efforts of Tunisian-Algerian efforts, and the neighboring Arab states in the Libyan crisis, to restore the missing security and stability in Libya, through a national consensus government that brings everyone without exclusion “.

According to the spokesman, who attended the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed that the solution is political, with their rejection of foreign interference.

“This issue represents a fundamental safeguard to dry up the sources of terrorism and organized crime, and building state institutions, including the national army and security forces, and other civilian institutions, which hold the management of public affairs” .

“Both sides focused on making every effort to realize peace and security in Libya, as Tunisia and Algeria have no ambitions in Libya, but the stability of Libya and security of all the region”.

“Sheikh Rached plays an important role in the Libyan scene. We have good relations and we are open to everyone as is the case with Algeria, which received all parties of Libya. There is no Libyan party that was not received in Algeria, and Algeria held talks with them all. Sheikh Rached and Ennahda have an open relationship not only with the Islamists, we have relations with former figures and men from the old regime, personalities from eastern Libya as well. Our relationship is strong and there is a mutual trust between us and the actors in the Libyan scene, and we will invest this relationship and this trust that we enjoy”.

Abdessalam denied Bouteflika’s talk about the rumors of the establishment of US military bases in the Tunisian territory, and Ennahda leaders confirmed that, saying: “We did not talk about this matter, and Tunisia affirmed that we are very keen to reject every form of foreign existence in the Tunisian territory, and our security and stability are common”.

In the bilateral relations between the two countries, Abdessalam said that President Bouteflika confirmed his full support for the Tunisian experience, which entered in the path of consensus and personal confidence in Ghannouchi.

“He confirmed his confidence in the role of Sheikh Rached, with whom he has years of strong relationships, and his confidence in the role of Mr. President, Beji Caid El Sebsi, who also has a strong relationship with his brother Bouteflika that extended for many years”.